Adopt-a-grandparent??

**Luv2BeFrugal1** · 05-28-2007, 08:54 PM

Does anyone know of any "adopt a grandparent" kind of voluteer programs?

I've wanted to do this for a couple years now. My Gramma passed away in '04 and I miss her terribly. Not that anyone could ever fill her shoes...but I'd sure love to have a "grandma-figure" around...and seems like somewhere out there someone would like a pretend "granddaughter"??

Would appreciate any info anyone has...

**DJ1972** · 05-29-2007, 07:54 AM

It may not be what you're looking for, but any nursing home would be a good place. When I worked at the nursing home, it always bothered me the amount of people that didn't have visitors..ever. And alot of the patients there are very capable of playing board games and having conversations.

**AmyMCGS** · 05-29-2007, 09:22 AM

I second the nursing home option. I'm the Activity Director in a nursing home, and I ALWAYS need people who will just come in and visit with residents. It's incredible how many of these folks get no visitors at all.... yet their funerals are filled with sobbing relatives.

Another option, via snail mail, is to go to www.chemoangels.net and go to their sister program, Senior Angels. You can adopt a homebound senior via snail mail and write letters, cards, etc... but they are under no obligation to write back, so often you will not hear back from them. You may be OK with that, I am, but I wanted to point that out in case you are wanting a more interactive relationship.

**Edna_E** · 05-29-2007, 10:59 AM

I did that at a nursing home when my son was about 7. It really was nice, and the lady we "adopted" really appreciated our visiting and doing things with her. Some nursing homes (like the one we did) have very formal programs where you have to go through a background check (probably not a bad idea in today's world) and they may have rules about whether/where you can take your person.

**pita1213** · 05-29-2007, 04:27 PM

i would inquire at nursing homes or assisted living complexes. when i was doing my clinicals for my CNA, the residents we were assigned too looked forward to us coming every saturday and we mostly just were practicing skills like changing beds and such, but since we were still learning, we spent more time with them than the regular staff did and they enjoyed that.

with girl scouts we went to an assisted living complex to sing christmas carols during lunch and they really enjoyed seeing the girls.

**Luv2BeFrugal1** · 06-01-2007, 04:27 PM

I looked into the senior angel program, but the longest you're assigned to a senior is 18 months...and they often don't respond...you just mail out every week. I'd really like someone that can be a "grandparent" type role. Tell stories, give advice, maybe even teach some frugal tricks from the early 1900's?

I'd love to do snail mail...but not if it gets cut off...that would make me sad.

I asked at our local senior center...they don't have any programs.

I'll try to find out about our town's senior home...

Thanks for all the advice!

Does anyone know of a senior penpal program??

**Lady Jennelle** · 06-02-2007, 12:33 AM

Hi!

I don't know if this will help you or not but quite awhile ago I come across this site and it's called WriteSeniors.com.

Hope this helps or is close to what you're looking for anyways.

Love,

Jennelle

**Luv2BeFrugal** · 06-04-2007, 03:52 PM

Originally Posted by Lady Jennelle

Hi!

I don't know if this will help you or not but quite awhile ago I come across this site and it's called WriteSeniors.com.

Hope this helps or is close to what you're looking for anyways.

Love,

Jennelle

Looks neat! Thanks!

I'll give it a go!

**Frugal Girl** · 06-13-2007, 06:32 AM

This looks like fun. I think I'll get involved.

**pkellyc** · 06-13-2007, 11:22 AM

Our church has a program that pairs people up with the elderly. We have a woman we have unofficially adopted, inviting her to our family functions. I noticed she was a little cranky at our last one. I commented to her that she was now an "official" family member, now that the guest had worn off. Even she had to laugh.