Companion care is an effective way to reduce social isolation, a common but harmful condition among older adults. Here’s how we address it with our programs at A Helping Hand: We meet the client where they are The majority of our clients don’t have transportation available to them. Others have mobility limitations that make it... Continue Reading →
When it comes to transportation for seniors, A Helping Hand is not the only option. Ride sharing services like Lyft and Uber are working to make their rides more accessible to older adults. Both Durham and Orange counties also provide accessible transit options, in addition to the regular bus routes which are free for seniors.... Continue Reading →
A Helping Hand is proud of our internship program, and over the years we’ve shaped the program to positively impact our community and the world at large. Here are 15 ways the AHH internship program makes a difference: Providing access to healthcare for low-income seniors and adults with disabilities. AHH interns help their clients with... Continue Reading →
April and May have been busy months here at AHH! We’ve had a lot of exciting events going on that we want to share. On April 19, in honor of National Volunteer Week, we hosted an appreciation event at Beer Study in Durham. Our volunteers enjoyed drinks, barbecue, and unlimited arcade games! Skee ball turned... Continue Reading →
As a new school semester dawned this past January, three of our former summer interns returned to A Helping Hand as volunteers. These three students had enjoyed their time as interns, but their schedules hadn’t allowed them to continue volunteering after their internships came to an end. Now that it’s a new semester and their... Continue Reading →
Today we have a guest post from Mallory, one of our volunteers, who shared a special experience with her client Ms. H. I thought it would be a great idea to bring Ms. H to lunch at my sorority house when she told me that she was previously a sorority house mom for another sorority... Continue Reading →
When potential clients and companions find out about A Helping Hand, the first person they meet is Denise. Denise Matthewson is our director of client services, which means she helps all of our new clients and companions through the onboarding process. For clients, this process typically starts with a phone call from a potential client... Continue Reading →
Two weeks ago, our new group of spring interns kicked off their internship with a day of orientation. Through this process, they learned the ins and outs of being companion. They discussed their perceptions of older adults, participated in a sensitivity training to simulate some of the physical impairments our clients experience, practiced using mobility... Continue Reading →
We thought Thanksgiving ended a month ago, but since we’ve came back to the office after the holiday break, we’ve been flooded with messages of gratitude. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” said Ms. H. Ms. L called to say, "Thank you for your Christmas gift. It just lifted me up. I was... Continue Reading →
We’ve had a busy few weeks here at A Helping Hand! Along with our Giving Tuesday fundraiser, we’ve been a part of two great events in the run up to the holidays. The Great Thanksgiving Listen On November 17, Activate Good gathered a group of volunteers to participate in The Great Thanksgiving Listen, a national... Continue Reading →
