Senior Corps

Senior Corps is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) that engages citizens over the age of 55 in meaningful volunteer opportunities across the country. For nearly 40 years, Senior Corps programs have connected more than 500,000 Americans to service opportunities in their communities, including the Foster Grandparents program, Senior Companions program, and RSVP. Senior Corps programs are administered on a state level by the local CNCS state office.

More than 7,200 seniors in Massachusetts contribute their time and talents in one of three Senior Corps programs. Foster Grandparents serve one-on-one as tutors and mentors to more than 10,180 young people who have special needs. Senior Companions help more than 230 homebound seniors and other adults maintain independence in their own homes. RSVP volunteers conduct safety patrols for local police departments, protect the environment, tutor and mentor youth, respond to natural disasters, and provide other services through more than 720 groups across Massachusetts.

To learn more about Senior Corps opportunities in Massachusetts, please contact:

Americans over 55 have a lifetime of experience to share, and the desire to make a real difference in their world. They've managed households, been business owners and nurses, farmers and salespeople, artists and executives. Now they are ready to put their unique talents and expertise to work in their communities, and enrich their own lives in the process.

Senior Corps connects today's over 55s with the people and organizations that need them most. We help them become mentors, coaches or companions to people in need, or contribute their job skills and expertise to community projects and organizations. Conceived during John F. Kennedy's presidency, Senior Corps currently links more than 500,000 Americans to service opportunities. Their contributions of skills, knowledge, and experience make a real difference to individuals, nonprofits, and faith-based and other community organizations throughout the United States.

Senior Corps offers several ways to get involved. Volunteers receive guidance and training so they can make a contribution that suits their talents, interests, and availability.

• The Foster Grandparent Program connects volunteers age 55 and over with children and young people with exceptional needs. Volunteers mentor, support, and help some of the most vulnerable children in the United States.
• The Senior Companion Program brings together volunteers age 55 and over with adults in their community who have difficulty with the simple tasks of day-to-day living. Companions help out on a personal level by assisting with shopping and light chores, interacting with doctors, or just making a friendly visit.
• RSVP connects volunteers age 55 and over with service opportunities in their communities that match their skills and availability. From building houses to immunizing children, from enhancing the capacity of nonprofit organizations to improving and protecting the environment, RSVP volunteers put their unique talents to work to make a difference.

If your organization currently hosts a CNCS-funded Senior Corps program in Massachusetts and are interested in providing reasonable accommodations to your Senior Corps participants, click here.

Some information adapted from the Corporation for National and Community Service, 11/23/10