Retired & Senior Volunteer Program: Providing a Priceless Service

Written by Sunrise on KGMB9 - sunrise@kgmb9.com

April 14, 2008 10:31 AM

Studies have shown that volunteering is good for our health and well-being. There are thousands of senior volunteers in Hawaii that are not only staying active, healthy and engaged, but providing priceless service in our communities.

This morning, Dr. Thomas is talking with the director of the state's Retired & Senior Volunteer Program , or R.S.V.P. for short.

Dr. Thomas: This morning we've got Norma Koenig, the state of Hawaii's R.S.V.P. Sitting down with us. So, Norma, what is R.S.V.P.?

Norma: R.S.V.P.'s the retired and senior volunteer program. It is now under the department of human services.

Dr. Thomas: So what does it mean? What do you guys do?

Norma: Well, we invite individuals, 55 and better - not older, better -- to apply to become volunteers. And our office has two other programs for which they can apply as well, but the focus of R.S.V.P. is strictly volunteering.

Dr. Thomas: So what's the deal with volunteering, and why does it matter?

Norma: Well, volunteering is a really easy way to remain connected in the community, and to feel that you make a difference, that you are part of the solution and not part of the problem.

Dr. Thomas: Right. So what kind of things that the people who volunteer through the R.S.V.P., what kinds of things do they do?

Norma: Well, they have choices. That's what our expertise is. We give choices to people. So, if somebody wants to serve with children, they can do that. If they don't want to, we direct them some other place.

Dr. Thomas: Cool. So that I, as a physician, am always interested in things that improve people's health. So I can talk about medicines, i can talk about diet, I can talk about exercise. What about volunteering? Does that have any impact on people's health?

Norma: Of course, volunteering is the natural way, choice you have in engaging with other people that normally you would not engage with. So that when you go let's say deliver meals for shut-ins, you get to know that population, you get to know the administrator of the program. And for individuals who may not have an active family life, because their children are gone, this is a wonderful way to remain socially active.

Dr. Thomas: So, relationships are good for your health, really. So i understand there's kind of a new concept out there called "paid volunteering." tell me about that - volunteers who get paid. What's that about?

Norma: ok, we don't call it that. We call it stipend. Volunteers are not paid, however…

Dr. Thomas: But some people get money.

Norma: I know, stipend volunteers is when we give them very modest amount of money, $2.65 an hour, and it's non-taxable. But it's not a salary.

Dr. Thomas: Well, that's great. I mean what I'm getting at is, if you look at volunteering, it's good for the community, it's good for kids, it's good for schools, for our society. It's good for our health, and sometimes it can be even helpful to your pocketbook, in some small way. I mean, what I'm trying to get at is, there are lots of benefits.

Norma: Correct.

Dr. Thomas: Now what about to get involved with R.S.V.P., what's the deal, how do i do it?

Norma: You would call our office. Would you like to know the number?

Dr. Thomas: I would like to know the number.

Norma: 586-5192.

Dr. Thomas: So what happens when i do that and somebody picks up the phone, what are they going to do?

Norma: May I help you? And then you say, "I'm interested in volunteering."

Dr. Thomas: I'm interested in "improving my health."

Norma: They would not say that. They would not know that, right? But we tell them that, because we invite them to an orientation. There's a one-hour orientation where we divulge all our secrets, and one of the secrets is, "come join us, and then you improve your health, you improve your self-esteem, you improve your skills either existing, or you learn new skills."

Dr. Thomas: Great.

Last Updated ( April 14, 2008 10:31 AM )

County Agencies on Aging Senior Helplines
(For all information and resources related to aging and caregiving)

Elderly Affairs Division, Oahu
Phone: 768-7700
www.elderlyaffairs.com
Hawaii County Office on Aging
Phone: 961-8626
http://www.hcoahawaii.org/
Kauai Agency on Elderly Affairs
Phone: (808) 241-4470
http://www.kauai.gov/elderly
Maui County Office on Aging
Phone: (808) 270-7774
http://www.co.maui.hi.us/departments/Housing/aging.htm