Your time is a valuable gift to share that makes a big impact for seniors and people with disabilities.
The CICOA Volunteer Program will connect you with people and programs that will utilize your skills and talents to make a difference to others in our community.
Volunteer opportunities are available for individuals or groups, long-term or just for one special project like our Safe at Home community volunteer days.
If you have any questions, please call or email CICOA’s Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@cicoa.org or 317-803-6003.
Current Volunteer Opportunities
Your time and talent is a treasure to CICOA and the people we serve throughout Central Indiana!
Friendly visits and phone calls are a great way for individuals to volunteer with seniors and make a positive difference. We also welcome groups to help fill community needs.
Senior Buddies
Call or visit a senior on a regular basis to check in with them and have a brief conversation. Senior Buddies are also needed to accompany seniors to the store or appointments. Social connection improves both mental and physical health.
Group Projects
Looking for a meaningful team building experience? We can accommodate companies, schools, clubs, faith communities and other groups who seek to give back to the community while working together.
Produce for Better Health
Help give back to your community by volunteering for the Produce for Better Health (PBH) Program. PBH is a new CICOA program that provides two boxes monthly of fresh fruits and vegetables to current CICOA congregate meal clients.
Pet Connect
We are building a volunteer program for CICOA Pet Connect, a service of Meals & More, that aims to reduce social isolation for our seniors by keeping them and their pets healthy and at home together.
Senior Buddies are volunteers who call or visit homebound and isolated seniors in Central Indiana. This volunteer opportunity is great for people looking to make personal connections with people in need, build friendships, and enrich your own life. If you have a little bit of time each week and want to help others, sign up to be a Senior Buddy!
CICOA Senior Buddies Volunteer Opportunities
- Senior Buddies Phone Calls – This opportunity involves calling assigned clients at least once a month or more to check in on them and see how they are doing. Many of our seniors feel alone, isolated and disconnected. It may not seem like a lot, but simple gestures like this can be the difference between life and death. Social connection improves both mental and physical health. With over 11,000 clients, there is no way CICOA could do this without the help of our passionate and caring volunteers.
- Senior Buddies In-home Visits – If you prefer face-to-face visits with seniors, volunteers can make in-home or facility visits with approval from the facility or in-home caregiver. This will be done at the discretion of the client and/or the Care Manager. This is a great opportunity to build friendships, chat with clients, and enrich both of your lives at the same time.
- Accompany senior to the grocery or pharmacy – Help a senior and provide much-needed social connection while they do their regular errands. Transportation of the client will be provided by CICOA Way2Go transportation service. Volunteers can either meet the client at the destination or accompany them on the Way2Go vehicle.
- Accompany senior to medical appointment – Having a friend accompany you to an appointment can help reduce stress and pass the time faster. Transportation of the client will be provided by CICOA Way2Go transportation service. Volunteers can either meet the client at the destination or accompany them on the Way2Go vehicle.
Why Volunteer?
Volunteering with Seniors Fights Social Isolation
At CICOA, we have volunteers calling about 200 seniors every week. They chat about the weather, about grandkids or memories of their youth. It may not seem like a lot, but simple gestures can be the difference between life and death.
Social isolation is a serious issue, and seniors are at the greatest risk. Isolation isn’t about being alone; it’s about feeling lonely and disconnected. People who feel lonely may have weakened immune systems that have trouble fighting off viruses, which makes them more susceptible to infectious diseases. Studies show that social isolation can also increase someone’s risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, and even death.
We all need social interaction to thrive. It’s one of the reasons CICOA has a volunteer program.
If you want to become a Senior Buddies volunteer, we’d love to have you join us. Call or visit a senior on a regular basis (daily, once or twice a week) to check in with them and have a brief conversation. There are also volunteer opportunities to accompany a senior to the grocery store, pharmacy or medical appointments. There’s never been a more important time to stay connected.