April is Volunteer Appreciation Month
April 17, 2024 • Uncategorized
April is recognized as National Volunteer Month and is dedicated to honoring all volunteers across the nation. Older adults, many of whom are retired and have decades of valuable life experience to offer, make some of the best volunteers. Giving time and talent is a way to stay intellectually, socially and physically active and volunteers very often derive a sense of purpose and connectedness from giving back to the community. One of the most popular ways older people volunteer is by supporting the growth and education of younger generations, in programs such as AmeriCorps’ Foster Grandparent Program and HSC’s Seniors Assisting in Geriatric Education (SAGE).
HSC Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics is especially thankful for the hundreds of older adults who have volunteered for SAGE, giving teams of health professions students at HSC and TCU their first clinical encounter with older adults. Senior mentors meet with their assigned team of four students four times in a calendar year, giving generously of their time, health information and wisdom. The innovative program began in 2009 and has grown steadily ever since. In 2024, 170 volunteers are mentoring 718 health professions students, in eight disciplines, across two universities. The Center for Older Adults sends a huge thank you to SAGE senior mentors past, present and future.
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