Senior Outreach Services Program

About the Program

The Senior Outreach Services (SOS) program, founded in 2002, provides support to Washoe County’s most vulnerable elders through trained volunteers that help seniors “Age in Place,” and allow them to stay in their homes as long as possible. These seniors are 60 years and older, frail, home-bound, low income, and in need of a friend. Many are isolated and may have no immediate family or other support system — yet all are deserving of dignity and respect. Volunteers meet the essential needs of these seniors while engaging in meaningful service that enriches their own lives.

The program is funded by the Nevada Aging and Disability Services Division (ADSD), and the Jean Sanford Endowment. The Sanford Center for Aging, University of Nevada, Reno sponsors Senior Outreach Services while the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Washoe County recruits and enrolls interested volunteers. Mileage reimbursement for volunteers is funded by a special grant from Regional Transportation Commission.

Click here to learn more about the program.

What to Expect As a Volunteer

As an SOS volunteer you can help a needy senior be as independent as possible by:

Offering companionship and emotional support by visiting once a week and keeping phone contact
Providing support by driving clients to doctor’s offices, collecting prescription medication from pharmacies, assisting with grocery shopping and taking them on outings
Sharing a skill, playing board games, assisting their clients with reading, especially those with limited vision
Helping seniors who need a little extra help with other essential day-to-day needs
Being an advocate for your clients and the eyes and ears of the program

What volunteers do not do:

Assist with housekeeping, laundry, or personal care
Take responsibility for money management
Administer medicine

Get Involved With SOS

If you have the desire to volunteer your time to assist frail seniors in our community for two or more hours each week, please call Annie Monnig-Reid, Senior Outreach Services Director at (775) 784-7506, or email her at bmonnig@unr.edu.

SOS Client and Volunteer Forms

For client forms including Follow-Up Survey, Client Reassessment Form and Client Registration and Intake Assessment, contact Annie Monnig-Reid, Senior Outreach Services Director, at (775) 784-7506 or email bmonnig@unr.edu.

For volunteer enrollment form and information, contact Annie Monnig-Reid, Senior Outreach Services Director, at (775) 784-7506 or email sos@unr.edu.

Rights Under Title VI

SENIOR OUTREACH SERVICES

Senior Outreach Services operates its programs and services without regard to race, color, and national origin in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Any person who believes s/he has been aggrieved by any unlawful discriminatory practice under Title VI may file a complaint with the UNR Equal Opportunity/Title IX Office.

For more information on the UNR Equal Opportunity/Title IX Office civil rights program, and the procedures to file a complaint, contact UNR Equal Opportunity/Title IX Office at (775) 784-1547; email mdoucettperry@unr.edu; or visit our office located at UNR Continuing Education Building, Room 206, 1041 N. Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89503. For more information, visit our website at https://www.unr.edu/equal-opportunity-title-ix.

A complainant may also file a complaint directly with the following Civil Rights offices:

Regional Transportation Commission
Director of Administrative Services
1105 Terminal Way
Reno, Nevada 89502

Nevada Equal Rights Commission
1325 Corporate Boulevard
Reno, Nevada 89502

U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Transit Administration
Office of Civil Rights, Region IX, 201 Mission Street, Suite 1650
San Francisco, CA 94105-18399