School Volunteers Discover Fountain of Youth Experience Corps Bay Area Seniors Gain Improved Quality of Life

By Cathy Curtis

Before he joined Experience Corps Bay Area (ECBA) in 2001, Rich Dana would sometimes spend a whole day at home in his pajamas. But now that teachers are depending on him to mentor schoolchildren, this senior adult has a renewed reason for getting dressed and leaving the house. He even goes out of his way to drive fellow volunteer team members to school and help them run errands.

ECBA volunteers bring a lifetime of experience to their work with the youth and reap the many health benefits of staying active. Photos: D. Samuel Marsh

Dana, 73, is one of 172 ECBA volunteers who say they have found a new purpose in life by assisting teachers in local public schools. Seniors are recruited through community outreach, advertisements and word of mouth—and trained in tutoring and mentoring skills, conflict resolution and other essentials. Each volunteer devotes two to 20 hours a week throughout the school year to helping students with academic subjects or after-school activities.

San Francisco-based Aspiranet (formerly Moss Beach Homes, Inc.)—which established the Bay Area site of the national Experience Corps program in 1998—received a three-year, $150,000 grant from TCWF in June 2006 for core operating support for an intergenerational, volunteer-based tutoring program that concurrently improves senior health.

“The goal behind creating a team of volunteers is that they see each other on a daily basis,” said Kaleda Walling, ECBA director. “This is a way for them to connect and share similar interests.”

Studies of Experience Corps volunteers show that the program provides multiple health and social benefits. The Johns Hopkins Schools of Medicine and Public Health surveyed volunteers who had participated in the program for four to eight months. These seniors said they were more active (63 percent) and felt stronger (44 percent). They had also made new friends and spent fewer hours watching TV.

Researchers at the Center for Social Development at Washington University in St. Louis found similar results in a one-year study. Volunteers overwhelmingly reported that the program had increased the circle of people they could turn to for help, made them feel better about themselves and improved their lives. Sixty-three percent of the most sedentary seniors had significantly increased their physical activity.

“The health benefits are particularly important for seniors who are isolated or have time on their hands,” said Jeffrey S. Kim, TCWF program director. “ECBA’s volunteer program meaningfully engages seniors’ experience and skills on a sustained basis.”

Consistency is the key to this win-win strategy; a majority of ECBA volunteers return the following year. Watching students’ grades, attendance and behavior improve over the months of tutoring reinforces volunteers’ sense of self-worth. Those who can spare 15 or more hours a week also receive a monthly stipend of $150 to $400, which can help pay for transportation or meals.

“Having a place to go where they feel they’re contributing their talents and skills gives the volunteers a sense of purpose,” said Star Bressler, ECBA associate director. “It’s a structured daily activity where they feel needed. What they bring to the table is their patience and a lifetime of experience.”

Being around lively young people also offers an inspirational boost to older adults. As Bressler said, “It makes them feel like they’re reliving their youth.”

FAQs from Experience Corps Bay Area’s website:

1. Do I need to have experience teaching or working with children?
   Not at all. Pre-service and ongoing trainings are provided. You do need patience and dedication, a love of learning, and to enjoy being with children.
2. How does it benefit me?
   You will get to know other wonderful, caring older adults. You will become important to the community and the children. You will learn new things. You will know that you are making a difference. You will have fun!
3. What will I do?
   Experience Corps members work with elementary or middle school students who need extra attention. Most members tutor in reading or math, help students complete classroom assignments, or lead enrichment activities after school. Members work with students individually and in small groups. Each member’s placement is specialized to fit his/her skills and the needs of students.

For more information, visit:

http://www.experiencecorps.org/cities/sanfrancisco/