Opportunities From: Volunteer Opportunities at United Way of Northern New Jersey

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or another chronic illness is one of the most selfless things we can do, but it can also be exhausting.

Through Jewish Family Service of MetroWest’s Respite program, volunteers support caregivers by visiting their loved ones for 2-3 hours once a week or every other week. Each volunteer is matched with a caregiver and their loved one to provide companionship, socialization, and activities such as reading books, watching movies, or playing games depending on the person’s abilities. This allows the caregiver a break while the care recipient still has safety and supervision.

Volunteers must complete a background check. Training on working with clients with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or another chronic illness is provided. For more information, call (973) 637-1762 or mmoyer@jfsmetrowest.org

This service is supported by a grant from The JFNA Center on Holocaust Survivor Care and Institute on Aging and Trauma.

Friendly Visiting

Friendly Visitors are matched with a homebound older adult to meet with in their home weekly. Volunteers provide conversation, companionship, and socialization opportunities.

Volunteers must submit to a background check. The program commitment is 1 hour once a week and the schedule of meetings is flexible. Volunteers are expected to report their hours monthly through the JFSMW Volunteer Tracking system and submit an update of the visit to the program coordinator via our app.

This program covers Essex, Morris, and surrounding counties, but we have the most need for female volunteers to visit homebound women in Essex County.

For more information contact Taylor Ruszczyk at TRuszczyk@jfsmetrowest.org or 973-637-1742.

Tessie’s Touch brings joy & connection to isolated older adults by matching them with a caring volunteer. Together, they can do activities and excursions in the community. Tessie’s Touch is an extension of our traditional Friendly Visiting program and allows us to go above and beyond for our seniors.

Volunteers must submit to a background check. The program commitment is 1 hour once a week and the schedule of meetings is flexible. Volunteers are expected to report their hours monthly through the JFS Volunteer Tracking system and submit an update of the visit to the program coordinator online.

For more information contact Taylor Ruszczyk at TRuszczyk@jfsmetrowest.org or (973) 637-1742.

Medicare can be complex and hard to navigate. The Essex County State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides free help to Medicare beneficiaries who have problems with, or questions about, their health insurance. Volunteer SHIP Counselors are trained to assist people with Medicare questions including providing information on Medigap plans, Part D coverage, claims, and benefits. Volunteers also answer questions regarding Medicaid and low-income assistance programs. Our main office is in Florham Park, however, volunteers counsel at community sites such a libraries and community centers throughout the county. In person events are also held throughout the county during Medicare Open Enrollment (Oct 15 - Dec 7). During the pandemic, we are providing services virtually via phone and zoom.

Volunteer counselors do not provide legal advice, sell, recommend, endorse any specific insurance product, agent, insurance company or plan. Volunteers cannot hold an active license to sell insurance.

We are especially in need of volunteers who are fluent in Spanish. A 40 hour virtual training is required and a minimum of 4 hours per week for 1 year of commitment as a volunteer is asked. The next training will be held virtually, with the dates TBD.

Volunteers must be age 55 or older and willing to submit to a background check.