Help wanted! Benefits of volunteering at Care Connection
Care Connection has many volunteer opportunities for seniors and retirees to consider. Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community by using your time, talent and expertise.
Learn more about volunteering with Care Connection >
Align with the mission and vision of Care Connection
Since 1973, Care Connection has offered senior meals, wellness activities, support services, and Medicare counseling for older adults. As one of Missouri’s area agencies on aging, Care Connection receives federal and state funding, along with donations and in-kind contributions and other community matches.
Volunteering opportunities at Care Connection, the Area Agency on Aging for West Central Missouri
Our network includes a central office and 20 local senior centers across a 13-county territory in West Central Missouri, including: Bates, Benton, Carroll, Cedar, Chariton, Henry, Hickory, Johnson, Lafayette, Pettis, Saline, St. Clair and Vernon.
Care Connection provides opportunities to create positive aging experiences. Give the gift of your time so that senior citizens can live with maximum independence, respect, and dignity!
Volunteering with our non-profit organization helps us “stretch the budget” to serve more older adults in West Central Missouri.
Volunteers have fun at local Senior Centers
If you are enthusiastic about your local Senior Center, we’d love your help. Volunteers are at the heart of our operations!
Your time and talents are just as important as financial donations. As an added benefit, you’ll meet a lot more people and get a look “behind the scenes”.
Volunteering brings purpose to empower you and increase your self-esteem. It’s a fantastic way to energize yourself, even if it’s just a few hours a week!
There are many ways to play a bigger role at your Senior Center, including delivering hot and frozen meals to homebound older adults in your area. You might try greeting newcomers as a receptionist, hosting in the dining room, posting on social media, creating flyers, or leading an event!
Advocacy volunteer opportunities
Long-Term Care Ombudsman volunteers
Our Long-Term Care Ombudsman program gives a voice for residents’ rights at long-term care facilities. As a volunteer, you’ll help resolve concerns and issues for residents and their families in a calm, confident, and confidential manner.
This opportunity is both rewarding and challenging. You’ll become a champion for resident-centered care and feel the direct impact of your efforts.
Learn more about Long-Term Care Ombudsman Volunteers >
Silver Haired Legislature District III Area Agency on Aging
Consider campaigning for one of our seats on the Silver Haired Legislature, and make your voice heard in Jefferson City. Each county in our territory is represented by an elected representative.
You would serve either a one-year or two-year term and promote legislative advocacy for older adults. Now is your chance to make a difference, which is increasingly important as our population ages. Learn more here >
Evidence-based program leaders
We offer an elite catalog of scientifically proven wellness programs that are designed to help older people age in place, including:
- Exercise classes in-person and online
- Management of chronic illnesses
Participants enjoy our exercise and disease prevention programs as a wonderful way to improve the quality of their lives. We’d love your help leading these amazing classes!
If you are the right candidate, Care Connection will train you to help lead the classes at no cost. See all our senior wellness programs for healthy lifestyles >
Skilled volunteer opportunities
Care Connection receives grant money to help local seniors navigate their way through complicated government programs. Our awarded grants include:
- Missouri CLAIM State Health Insurance Assistance Program for Medicare counseling.
- Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) to help beneficiaries prevent, detect and report fraud, errors, and abuse.
- Seasonal Tax Counseling for the Elderly Program
- Health Insurance Marketplace navigators
This is your chance to learn new things, roll up your sleeves, and solve real-world problems! Care Connection’s staff will train the right candidates at no charge.
Fill out the form at the Missouri SMP website to get more information on all these services >
AmeriCorps Seniors and RSVP
Make giving back your second act as part of the federal AmeriCorps Seniors program. Care Connection operates the prestigious Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP) in Benton, Cedar, Henry, Hickory, Johnson, and St. Clair counties.
We are so proud of the work our RSVP volunteers do to help others! It’s easy and fun to help at a wide variety of volunteer stations throughout your community.
Find your match with Give 5
If you aren’t quite sure which local non-profit volunteer opportunity would best suit your skills and interests, try Give 5 at Care Connection. This exciting program was developed for retired, or nearly retired, people 60 or older.
Give 5 is a “Civic Matchmaking” initiative designed to help you take the next step to service:
- Tour a list of area non-profit organizations in your community.
- Hear from their leadership team about the mission and available opportunities.
Sign up for an area Give 5 event >
After graduation, you can make a confident volunteering decision that matches your experience and feeds your passions. Consider Give 5 as a networking opportunity to meet motivated people as well!
Find a meaningful public service opportunity at area non-profit organizations. As a highly sought after Give 5 alum, you’ll volunteer at least five hours a month.
Sign up for the next Give 5 event in your area. You’ll be glad to meet like-minded people in your area and discover a new sense of purpose and relevance after retirement.