Page 8 - 2015 Annual Report
P. 8
$75 Finding
trains a volunteer to provide Pride
Senior Peer Counseling.
Ask Joan what she talks about with her Senior Peer her weekly visits are a rare chance to be himself.
Help every generation live Counseling clients and she’ll point to her knee. “Battle Countless LGBT older adults go back in the closet
better together by visiting scars,” she says with a laugh, “knee replacements, upon entering long-term care facilities, fearing
arthritis, medications that are working and ones discrimination, lack of acceptance, and even
www.peninsulafamilyservice.org/donate that aren’t.” She is one of 131 volunteer Senior bullying. With increased odds of being single and
Peer Counselors who participated in our program without children or supportive families, many LGBT
548 this past year, and among a special handful who elders become disconnected and depressed.
work specifically with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
older adults transgender clients. Each week, Joan and her fellow That’s where Joan comes in. During her six-week
were connected counselors are bright spots in the lives of our diverse volunteer training, she honed her listening skills,
English, Mandarin, Spanish, and Tagalog speaking learned how to connect her clients with local
with a Senior clients, using the simple tool of conversation to ease resources, and discovered the best ways to break
Peer Counselor the aches and pains of aging. down social barriers. “We’re all getting older,” Joan
admits, “but there’s no reason why anyone of us
last year For Melvin*, one of Joan’s clients who has chosen to should have to walk that path alone.”
remain closeted within his senior living community,
|6 PENINSULA FAMILY SERVICE * name changed to protect privacy
Joan is the bright spot in the life
of an isolated older adult, using the
simple tool of conversation to
ease the aches and pains of aging.
trains a volunteer to provide Pride
Senior Peer Counseling.
Ask Joan what she talks about with her Senior Peer her weekly visits are a rare chance to be himself.
Help every generation live Counseling clients and she’ll point to her knee. “Battle Countless LGBT older adults go back in the closet
better together by visiting scars,” she says with a laugh, “knee replacements, upon entering long-term care facilities, fearing
arthritis, medications that are working and ones discrimination, lack of acceptance, and even
www.peninsulafamilyservice.org/donate that aren’t.” She is one of 131 volunteer Senior bullying. With increased odds of being single and
Peer Counselors who participated in our program without children or supportive families, many LGBT
548 this past year, and among a special handful who elders become disconnected and depressed.
work specifically with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
older adults transgender clients. Each week, Joan and her fellow That’s where Joan comes in. During her six-week
were connected counselors are bright spots in the lives of our diverse volunteer training, she honed her listening skills,
English, Mandarin, Spanish, and Tagalog speaking learned how to connect her clients with local
with a Senior clients, using the simple tool of conversation to ease resources, and discovered the best ways to break
Peer Counselor the aches and pains of aging. down social barriers. “We’re all getting older,” Joan
admits, “but there’s no reason why anyone of us
last year For Melvin*, one of Joan’s clients who has chosen to should have to walk that path alone.”
remain closeted within his senior living community,
|6 PENINSULA FAMILY SERVICE * name changed to protect privacy
Joan is the bright spot in the life
of an isolated older adult, using the
simple tool of conversation to
ease the aches and pains of aging.
