Local Volunteer Opportunities: Benevilla Needs Volunteer Help to Provide Crucial Services

March 20, 2019

West Valley, AZ – According to AARP, the vast majority (87 percent) of those 65 and older want to remain in their home and community as they grow older. As more Americans from the baby boom generation age into retirement, the need for help to “age in place” is growing. With the aid of carefully vetted volunteers, Benevilla offers FREE home services helping older adults stay in their homes longer and remain independent, or age in place. At Benevilla, we offer local volunteer opportunities to provide these services for free.

Benevilla is a non-profit organization providing an array of care for older adults and others throughout the West Valley. It also serves adults with cognitive disabilities, caregivers, children and families. Local volunteer opportunities involve participating in life enrichment programs, helping the home-bound, grocery shopping, and so much more.

The National Institute on Aging offers several tips to help seniors prepare for aging in place, which many say is vital to their peace of mind. Those with medical conditions should speak with their doctor about future medical needs. The key is to plan and understand what kind of help may be needed and where to find that help. Here are some important issues to address:

  • Household help: Do you need help with maintenance tasks or grocery shopping?
  • Managing finances: Have you forgotten to pay bills or find statements confusing?
  • Transportation: Do you need help getting to medical appointments?
  • Social interaction: Do you get out of the house regularly to meet friends and participate in social activities?

These are just a few items to consider for those planning to age in place, but they all have one thing in common. These are services offered FREE through the Benevilla Home Services program. These in-person services are provided through the help of volunteers and are available to older adults throughout the West Valley.

“Our generous volunteers allow us to offer several services critical to helping area seniors age in place,” says Benevilla President and CEO Joanne Thomson. “Without them, we would not be able to serve as many people as we do.” During 2018, Thomson said volunteers gave seniors 2,639 rides to medical appointments, made 1,247 grocery deliveries to homebound seniors and provided more than 10,000 acts of service, including minor home maintenance, in-person visits and phone chats.

The non-profit agency also provides a range of additional services through other programs. These services include connecting older adults and caregivers to critical community resources, providing caregiver respite and support groups, hosting social events, providing free holiday meals and more.

Those interested in local volunteer opportunities with Benevilla should visit the agency website here, or call 623-584-4999. Started by the community and for the community in 1981, Benevilla is a not-for-profit human services agency dedicated to enriching the lives of West Valley residents.