Transportation and Companionship
Our volunteer-based programs serve and support adults like you in Washoe County who are over 60 years old who have limited social support and transportation options. Our programs are free and based on an initial in-home assessment to ensure our companionship and transportation are appropriate for your needs. Due to high demand for our services and because we rely on volunteers, we typically have a waiting list of one to six months before we can schedule an in-home visit. Our services include:
- Transportation: The Volunteer Transportation Program is for adults age 60 and older who cannot drive themselves and have limited other transportation options available. Door-through-door rides to medical appointments, essential errands, and wellness activities are provided by volunteers driving their own vehicles. A part-time staff driver is occasionally available to provide transportation using the program’s passenger van with a wheelchair lift. Once enrolled, transportation must be requested at least two weeks in advance to allow ample time for finding a driver. We are unable to provide transportation for medical appointments requiring general anesthesia or sedation.
- Companionship: Our Senior Outreach Services (SOS) program provides free, volunteer-based companionship to an elder looking for a friend. The program serves adults in Washoe County over the age of 60 who are socially isolated, lonely, residing in a private home setting, typically qualify as low-income, and seeking social visits. Our goal is to assist with “Aging in Place,” allowing you to remain in your home for as long as possible by individually matching you with a volunteer. This person will generally visit weekly, providing emotional support and friendship, sharing a skill or hobby together, help you navigate through difficult decisions, and assist with accessing essential resources. Volunteers are not allowed to provide hands-on care, housekeeping, personal care, money management, or administer medicine.
Do you have questions about our transportation or companionship program? Please call (775) 784-4774 or email our Sanford Center Community Services team.
Are you looking to provide any of the support listed above for a local elder and have time in your schedule? Please call (775) 784-4774 or email our Sanford Center volunteer team.