It’s grocery day for Ola Malone \u2014 a day she looks forward to every week.<\/p>\n
“I can’t think of anything else that I need,” Malone said. “But, you know, going to the grocery store, how that is.”<\/p>\n
For Ola, Walmart is the place to be. Alone, this would be a tough task for the 83-year-old Dallas resident, but not with Maria Gonzalez by her side \u2014 Ola’s 79-year-old senior companion.<\/p>\n
“With isolation, loneliness really becoming an epidemic in our older adults,” said Senior Companion Program Director Melissa Gomez. “This really helps both parties combat that isolation and loneliness.”<\/p>\n
Senior companions are part of the Senior Source, a Dallas nonprofit helping residents age.<\/p>\n
“I always like to work with people,” Gonzalez said.<\/p>\n
Ten hours a week, spread over three days, Gonzalez comes to Ola’s home for whatever Ola wants to do.<\/p>\n
“Doctor’s appointments, store,” Malone listed out. “We go to Hobby Lobby.”<\/p>\n
On grocery day, after the Walmart trip, it’s back home for some TV and gossip time.<\/p>\n
Before Malone and Gonzalez were connected, Malone’s daughters had to help her.<\/p>\n
“I was homebound,” Malone said. “They would have to take off their job to take me to work and do stuff for me.”<\/p>\n
Now, Malone has Gonzalez do stuff for her.<\/p>\n
“She and I have really grown together fast,” Gonzalez said. “We’re good friends.”<\/p>\n
Aging can be a lonely process, especially if you’re doing it by yourself.<\/p>\n
“I suffer from depression because of the job where I used to work,” Malone said. “Anxiety, a lot of anxiety.”<\/p>\n
But Gonzalez is not only a built-in helper \u2014 she’s also a friend. For Gonzalez, this keeps her going.<\/p>\n
“This is for my own good, keeps me healthy,” Gonzalez said. “Move around, have a schedule, get up in the morning.”<\/p>\n
As much as Gonzalez may be Malone’s companion, Malone is Gonzalez’ too.<\/p>\n
“It is completely a friend component,” Gomez said. “We have volunteers that stay with a client to the end of life. They become part of the family.”<\/p>\n
The senior companion does need volunteers \u2014 it has a waitlist of seniors who want companions. If you’re 55 and older and can dedicate at least ten hours a week to a client or two, you can sign up at the Senior Source Website. There is a $4 per hour stipend, and you must pass a background check.<\/p>\n