Senior Services Navigation

We care about our immigrant seniors and strive to enhance their quality of life with health education, service navigation, and care coordination. 

Immigrant seniors often face barriers in access to services due to Limited English Proficiency and lack of a support network. AACF’s Community Health Workers help these seniors navigate local resource with care, compassion, and dignity. Most importantly, all of our programming is designed to accommodate diverse participants with linguistical and cultural sensitivity.

Funding agencies

Funding for this program is provided by the Frederick County Government, Delaplaine Foundation, AmeriCorps, and Maryland Department of Health.

Contact Us

Gracy Zurita
Community Health Worker (Spanish)
Email: [email protected]
Tel: (301) 694-3355, ext. 1014

Elly Sedita
Community Health Worker (Chinese)
Email: [email protected]
Tel: (301) 694-3355, ext. 1021

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Americorps – Senior Companion Program

Serve as a friend and companion to older neighbors making sure they can live in their own homes for as long as possible.

AmeriCorps Senior Companion Program (SCP) focuses on providing assistance and friendship to older adults who are lonely or have difficulty with daily tasks, such as shopping or paying bills. Through this program, volunteers enrich lives, keep seniors independent longer and provide respite to family caregivers. AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers themselves report better health and longevity having served their community.

Volunteers of the Senior Companion Program are individuals 55 years of age and over. They serve 15-40 hours per week helping adult clients live independently in their own homes. Senior Companion receive pre-service orientation, training, supplemental insurance while on duty, reimbursement of expenses relate to companionship, and (if eligible) a tax-free hourly stipend.

Senior Companion provide home visits and personal assistance to uplift elders who may struggle to remain living independently in their own residence, rather than exist in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Members of SCP are advocates for the elderly who may suffer from chronic health conditions, be physically and/or emotionally disabled, or otherwise require the help of a caring and knowledgeable friend and advocate.

​AmeriCorps SCP of Frederick County can pair you with a senior in need of companionship. If you have someone that you are already caring for, you may sign up together.

Benefits

• • Health and wellness. AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers experience decreased anxiety, depression, and loneliness. 84% of volunteer report stable or improving health after one year of service.
  • Self-improvement. See the daily impact of your service as you build on the skills you already have and develop new ones.
  • Stipend. Some programs offer a modest stipend to qualified, low-income volunteers.
  • Community. Connect with others and be part of something bigger. 88% of volunteers who felt a lack of companionship reported fewer feelings of isolation after becoming an AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer.
  • New skills. AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers often tap their wealth of experience and wisdom and channel it in new directions.
  • Insurance. Most programs offer accident, personal liability, and excess automobile liability insurance.

Eligibility Requirements

To serve in AmeriCorps Senior Companion Program programs you must be:

• • 55 years and older
  • Live in Frederick County, MD
  • Only those that have an annual income of less than 200% of Federal Poverty Level will qualify for tax-free hourly stipend (currently $4/hour). Federal Poverty Level depends on your household size, please refer to the following chart for details – https://www.medicaidplanningassistance.org/federal-poverty-guidelines/.

Funding agencies

Funding for AmeriCorps Seniors of Frederick County comes from AmeriCorps, officially Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).

Contact Us

Stephen Norris
Project Manager, AmeriCorps SCP
Email: [email protected]
Tel: (301) 694-3355, ext. 1005

Frank Sainfort
Program Assistant
Email: [email protected]
Tel: (301) 694-3355, ext. 1040

For general inquiries, please send an email to [email protected].

Address:
Hillcrest Community Center, 1150 Orchard Terrace, Frederick, MD 21703

Hours:
10:00am – 5:00pm Mon-Fri

What is AmeriCorps SCP?

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