AGING AND INDEPENDENT LIVING
Helping seniors and people with disabilities attain and sustain
maximum independence, well-being and health.
Bobbie Jacob and Laila, a student at Annie Wright Schools in Tacoma.
Client Story
Making friends across generations uplifts seniors like Bobbie.
“You just feel so alive and happy.”
At 80 years old, Bobbie Jacob says programs through LCSNW and Mercy Housing in Tacoma have given her “a new lease on life.”
After retiring from the Tacoma Housing Authority, Bobbie found herself isolated and unsure where to turn. Through a Mercy Housing resource fair, she connected with community support and wellness programs, and was introduced to LCSNW programs including Santa for Seniors and the Senior Companion program (a program of AmeriCorps Seniors).
What began in 2017 through Santa for Seniors’ holiday gift deliveries has developed into an offshoot called Time to Talk. The intergenerational program, launched in fall 2023, was created in response to the isolation many seniors experienced during and after the pandemic.
Time to Talk helps rebuild connection and community for Mercy Housing seniors through regular visits with students. Participants include middle school students from Annie Wright Schools and nursing students from the University of Washington Tacoma.
Throughout the year, students and seniors gather for conversation, crafts, brain games, and shared activities.
“We have a wonderful time,” Bobbie says. “The students bring a sense of, ‘You don’t have to be an adult today. You can be a child. You can make a paper airplane or do origami.’”
For Bobbie, the most meaningful part is the kindness and respect the students bring to each visit. “I feel that when the students come, they come to be beside you and with you, not above you or behind you or over you.”
“To have an eighth grader ask me how my day is going, how am I feeling, to take the time to give me care and attention, is just the most rewarding,” she says.
The impact cannot be measured in hours or activities alone. Seniors gain companionship, joy, and a renewed sense of purpose, while students build empathy, understanding, and meaningful connections with older adults that stay with them long after each visit ends.
“You just feel so alive and happy,” Bobbie says. “It’s the difference between living and existing.”
Santa for Seniors
19,885
GIFT RECIPIENTS
1,207
VOLUNTEERS
30
COUNTIES SERVED IN WA AND OR
6
STATES SERVED
+VIRGIN ISLANDS
Volunteer Profile
Theresia Pritchett
After retiring from a preschool classroom job, Theresia began thinking about ways to give back to her community. Today she spends several hours a week with Darlene, who faces health challenges and limited mobility. They go out for coffee, share meals, run errands, visit the local plant nursery, or simply talk.
Theresia is a dedicated volunteer in the LCSNW Senior Friends program, which matches volunteers with seniors experiencing loneliness and isolation in communities throughout Pierce County, Washington. Through shared interests and regular visits, these friendships create a meaningful connection for both volunteer and client.
For the past year, Theresia and Darlene have been paired together. Darlene enjoys reminiscing about loved ones she has lost; Theresia shares stories from her own life.
One unforgettable outing was a trip to a favorite outlet mall, Darlene’s first visit in six years. “It’s like ‘Make-A-Wish for seniors,’” Theresia shared.
Theresia’s commitment to service extends further. As a volunteer with the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), a program of AmeriCorps Seniors, she helps assemble gift bags for Santa for Seniors and creates cards for isolated seniors.
For Theresia, who lives south of Tacoma, being a Senior Friend is deeply personal. “I feel good, especially when (Darlene) is happy,” she says. “It’s a blessing.”
Her advice to others considering volunteering as a Senior Friend, “If you have time, just do it. You won’t regret it!”
Senior Friends and
Senior Companion (a program
of AmeriCorps Seniors)
120
CLIENTS
67
VOLUNTEERS
Theresia (right) and Darlene.
By the Numbers
Aging & Independent Living services are all centered in the Puget Sound region.
46
Dementia Services /
Caregiver Support Clients
154
AmeriCorps Seniors Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)
222
Foreign Born
Elders Clients