SENIOR OUTREACH PROGRAM

 

The Senior Outreach Program was established by former Transfiguration Pastor Father Alfred Isacsson, O Carm.  Father Alfred recognized there were a growing number of senior citizens in the parish.  According to some sources, parishioners over the age of 55 consist of approximately 50% of the parish’s population with 30% of the parish exceeding 65 years of age.  It was recognized that some of the senior citizens required daily assistance, since these parishioners were for the most part home bound or in local nursing homes.  The basic objective of the Senior Outreach Program was to establish a “clear link” to those parishioners that were physically unable to participate in parish activities.  This new initiative coincided with efforts in 1999 by Cardinal O’Connor to declare a greater focus on the needs of the elderly and handicapped.

 

 

senior outreach

Get Involved: Any member of Transfiguration Church having a willingness to contribute to this successful program as a regular or specialist volunteer should contact the Priory at 631-1672.  In addition, those same telephone numbers can be utilized if any of our parishioners are aware of a handicapped or senior citizen that is in need of assistance.

Deacon Jerry Blood

Deacon Jerry Blood was charged with the responsibility to set up and implement this senior outreach program, so as to efficiently and effectively administer to the elderly and infirmed.  Upon formalizing this program, Deacon Blood sought and received the approval of the Archdiocese of New York, which subsequently has annually recognized the volunteers at Transfiguration Church for their tremendous service. 

 

Goal: Specifically, the program’s most important and basic service is to promote regular contact with those in need by a volunteer of the parish, who is characterized as a “primary” volunteer.  Primary volunteers are requested to make regular contact with senior citizens on a monthly basis for the purpose of ensuring their well being and to provide friendly companionship.  In addition, the program provides for “specialists” to make occasional contacts with the senior citizens as dictated by individual circumstances.  Specialists often times arrange for the sacraments, transportation, light chores and shopping, as well as delivery of prescriptions, assistance in preparing income tax returns, medical forms and resolving medical insurance issues.  In some cases, specialists provide assistance in translating documents for those seniors that are not fluent in English. 

Examples:

During the past year, Transfiguration Church volunteers assisted approximately 20 senior citizens from the parish.  The type of assistance provided to our senior citizens is reflected below:

 

  • A Transfiguration Church volunteer with two young children made regular visits to her assigned senior citizen. The volunteer, in company with her children, enhanced the visit by baking homemade cookies.

  • A volunteer provided significant assistance to a senior citizen, who had been seeking an appropriate nursing home for his wife.The volunteer transported the senior citizen to a number of prospective facilities and insured that all relevant matters were clearly explained to the senior citizen.

  • A volunteer arranged to have the sacraments ministered to a handicapped senior citizen.

  • The death of a senior citizen caused the senior’s nephew to seek advice from a program volunteer concerning funeral arrangements for his aunt.

  • A Transfiguration Church volunteer was instrumental in answering important correspondence that a senior citizen had received. This resulted in avoiding an important missed court ordered deadline.

  • A church volunteer arranged for a handicapped senior citizen to have her sidewalk cleared after every snow storm.

  • A legally blind senior citizen, who was very grateful for the Senior Outreach Program, setsaside time to pray daily for all the parishioners at Transfiguration Church.