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 →
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 →
Our volunteer of the year is.... Kayla Chee! Be sure to check out the video to find out why Kayla is such an incredible volunteer! Thank you, Kayla, for everything you do.
College students make up a significant portion of our volunteer base. We love their energy, and their schedules usually match up well with the times that clients need help the most. However, during the holidays and other school breaks when students leave town en masse, we typically have to turn down requests from clients because... 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 →
Happy Giving Tuesday! In celebration of this day of giving, we’d like to honor Steffi, our volunteer and internship program director. Steffi provides the backbone for all the work we do at A Helping Hand, managing the entire charitable program, with more than 90 clients, 60 volunteers, and up to 15 new interns each semester.... Continue Reading →
