Senior Services of Alexandria

Alexandria, Va. 

A cornerstone of the community for 50 years, Senior Services of Alexandria (SSA) is a resource older adults look to for many needs. SSA brings meals, groceries, friendships, resources, and much more to the doors of older adults every day. SSA acts as the eyes and ears for the older adults in the community, responding and adapting to growing service gaps within the City of Alexandria so that older adults can age in place.

SSA was awarded $7,500.00 for the Friendly Visitor and Caring Connections programs. Through the Friendly Visitor program, socially isolated older adults are matched with trained visitors. The visitors, who are specially trained, spend time on a weekly basis with older adults who have lost a spouse, live far from family or face mobility issues. In the Caring Connection program, older adults with chronic diseases are provided with assistance for thirty to ninety days following discharge from a healthcare facility. This program works to both reduce readmissions and prevent a new health crisis.

H. is one of many devoted SSA volunteers. He joined SSA’s Groceries to Go Program and showed up faithfully each Thursday to shop for Ms. W. Her list, taken over the phone by the Program Director every other week, is familiar. He knows where to find her regular items and keeps an eye out for discounts for her. At her house, she is waiting at the door for him. She looks forward to his visit. As he unloads her bags, he offers to loosen any tight-fitting lids and asks about her week. H. realized, after doing the shopping for Ms. W., that his favorite element of their brief visits was the conversation. He reached out to SSA about becoming a Friendly Visitor—and for Ms. W. specifically. As a member of the Caring Connection team, H. visits Ms. W. at least once a week for an hour at a time and has time to sit, to talk, to share a cup of coffee or a book. They enjoy each other’s company immensely and have formed a close friendship.

To learn more about Senior Services of Alexandria visit: seniorservicesalex.org.