Caring Hands Volunteer Caregivers Program

The vision of Caring Hands Volunteer Caregivers Program is to promote independence and enhance the quality of life of the aging population in our community through meaningful, one-on-one relationships with caring volunteers.

Our mission is to create one-on-one matches between caring volunteers and seniors in need who may be frail, isolated, or disabled over the age of 60, enabling them to stay in their homes, and remain independent, as long as safely possible by providing free non-medical in-home assistance.

Our life-enhancing services include: friendly phone calling (in conjunction with any other service), friendly visiting and companionship, transportation and escort to medical appointments and other needed services, assistance with shopping and errands, respite care (or rest for the family caregiver), reading mail and letter writing, light household tasks and light meal preparation, minor home repairs and yard work. All services are generally provided 1 - 3 hours per week to meet a long term need, and are based on the availability of volunteers.

Since the inception of Caring Hands in the fall of 1998, we have attempted to meet a remarkable and growing need for volunteer services in Central, South, and East Contra Costa County. Statistics for Contra Costa County reveal that during the period from 1990 - 2010 there will be a 237% increase in the 85+ age group. In addition, statistics for the same period indicate nearly 155,000 people will join the 55+ population or more than one in four households will potentially need the type of assistance Caring Hands provides.

January 2009

236 Seniors actively matched with weekly services from 201 Volunteers
8 seniors are waiting to be matched for the first time; 6 seniors are waiting to be re-matched
18 volunteers are active and not matched (serving as Advisory Committee members, Office Volunteers,
or Sub-Committee members); 99 volunteers will substitute