Senior Companion

Senior Companion volunteers provide companionship and support to other adults who need extra assistance to remain at home or in the community. Volunteers provide most of the companionship in program clients' homes. Volunteers can help ease loneliness and social isolation, assist with transportation and light chores, help to serve as eyes and ears to professionals who can intervene in the case of medical or other deterioration on the part of the clients, and give support to informal caregivers. Senior Companion volunteers receive hourly stipends, must be age 55 or older and meet established income eligibility guidelines (Minnesota Statutes 2025, section 256.977).

In Minnesota, as of 2025, 259 volunteers served 130,646 hours in all 87 counties from the following program.

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (87 Counties)
Project website: Lutheran Social Services - Senior Companion Services
- All 87 Counties in Minnesota
- Total award for fiscal year 2027: $570,087
- Contract #: 253440
- Current Number of Stations managing and scheduling volunteers: 67
- Current Number of unduplicated volunteers: 253
Goals/objectives
- Volunteers will provide one-one-one support to isolated older adults in their homes. Volunteers are matched with individuals with the goal of providing improved capacity for independent living and to increase social support. Volunteer duties are based on the individual needs of each client. Duties may include:
  - Reminders to take medication
  - Accompanying the client to and from medical appointments
  - Encouraging exercise
  - Encouraging nutrition (assisting in preparing a well-balanced light meal, sharing a meal, or organizing a grocery list and storing leftovers)
  - Providing social recreation
  - Assistance completing forms and writing bills
  - Providing information and assistance in accessing resources.
- Volunteers provide one-one-one support to family members of caregivers. The individuals are either self-referred or referred to the program through a partner agency. Volunteers will be matched with these individuals with the goal of providing caregivers and individuals with unique needs increased social support.