AMENITIES
VOLUNTEER SERVICES

Like so many non-profit organizations, the Cedars at the JCA attracts volunteers - in this case, those who enjoy working with older people. The range of services they provide includes spending quality time with residents; entertaining, singing, and playing musical instruments; transporting residents from one building to another, and helping start and oversee weekly card games.

Volunteers range in age from teenagers to senior citizens and even include residents who live on site in Residential Care ll neighborhoods. Many are students from area schools who are doing community service work. Others are people of all ages who are participating in the Cedars' "Adopt a Parent, Grandparent, or Great Grandparent Program." For residents, this program provides friendly visits; and, for the visitors, it is often a chance to fill the void left by a lost family member.

We ask volunteers what they would like to do and try to give them assignments that meet their needs, as well as ours. We often invite whole classes of younger students to visit and interact with residents. The children always want to return, and it is well known that elderly people come to life around children and animals.

That's why the Cedars works with several organizations that provide therapy and support dogs, which play a variety of roles in a facility such as ours. Often, dogs serve as memory and conversation stimuli for those with dementia or Alzheimer's. Dogs bring back happy memories and provide opportunities to touch and play with animals again. Dogs and their handlers are always welcome visitors to those who spend much time indoors.

As qualified and professional as the Cedars' medical and support staff is, their efforts are greatly enhanced by the presence and generosity of those who volunteer their services.

To volunteer call: 314-754-2127.