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ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The city is looking for people who can sing, dance, play an instrument or tell a story — and who would be willing to do it for an audience of older adults on a weekday afternoon.
Alexandria's Adult Day Services Center is recruiting what it calls talented volunteers to share whatever they do well with the participants in its weekday program. Singing, dancing, painting, crafts, storytelling and instruments are all on the list, and the center says it is open to anything else.
"Take the stage and show off your skills," the recruitment flyer says.
The minimum age is 14, which makes it one of the few city volunteer roles open to high school students.
What the center does
The Adult Day Services Center runs a weekday program at the Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson St., for adults 55 and older who need extra support or cannot be home alone during the day. It operates from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The program provides breakfast, lunch and snacks, medication administration, and physical, social and mental activities. A registered nurse is on site, and the activity staff includes an activity director and three therapeutic recreation leaders. Fees are based on income, and transportation is available.
The center welcomes participants with dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, who can take part socially. The program director and nurse meet with each applicant beforehand.
For caregivers, the center is also a break — several hours in which someone else is responsible.
What volunteers do
Performing is one piece of a broader volunteer role. Others help at meals, work on arts and crafts, staff themed parties, accompany participants on outings to ballgames, ballets and fire stations, lead music and singing, or simply sit and visit.
The center describes volunteers as a way to keep participants engaged with the world around them.
How to sign up
The volunteer interest form asks for a name, contact information, the talent being offered, and availability by day and time. The listed performance slots are 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 and 2:15 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Questions go to adultdayservicecenter@alexandriava.gov or 703-746-5676.
The center also runs a caregiver support group, The Caregiver Space, which meets the second Thursday of each month from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Lee Center. RSVP to romita.afzal@alexandriava.gov or 703-328-8505.
