Ford moved from California to Sun Lakes in 2000. He and his lovely wife of 34 years were ready for new professional adventures. He continued to work, and when it was time for retirement, Ford shifted his focus towards helping others. As a longtime donor to Neighbors Who Care, Ford was aware of the amazing work being done to support seniors in his community. In 2016, he joined our volunteer team.
Ford embraced volunteering and discovered that helping others brought him joy. Ford’s main focus has been non-medical Respite care, and Ford has a true gift and passion for this assignment. It offers him the chance to sit and visit with our clients, and truly get to know them, while at the same time providing a much-needed break to their full-time caregiver. Research shows that roughly 30% of full-time caregivers pass before the person they are caring for. Why you may ask? Mostly due to the stress of caring for their loved ones and because they are often so focused on caring for that loved one they neglect their health and needs. This is where volunteers like Ford truly make a difference. The work Ford is doing is not one-sided as he feels he gets just as much from his visits as he gives. Ford sees such value, in this service that on average, he volunteers 6 or more 2-hour shifts each month. He is truly going above and beyond.
Ford was recently matched for our Friendly Visiting program. Friendly Visiting offers a long-term one-on-one relationship with one of our clients. The Friendly Visiting program was developed to grow relationships and alleviate loneliness. Ford has been enjoying his new assignment that requires him to visit on average with the client once a week. Once a relationship has been formed volunteers and clients are encouraged to branch out of the client’s home and do other activities together as you would with any other friendship.
Ford has such a passion for visiting that he shares that passion by volunteering not only for NWC but also for the local hospital and Aster Aging. As a Veteran, he also spends his time at the hospital helping his fellow Veterans by sitting with them and allowing them to share their stories. He understands the value of listening and showing others that their stories matter. As I tried to talk with Ford and learn about his life, he struggled with telling me about himself instead, he was more at home sharing the stories of the clients he serves.
Another gift Ford has is his ability to make things happen! Ford has taken it upon himself to support Neighbors Who Care by contacting local TV News Stations and sharing our story in hopes of obtaining a feature on their platforms. His hard work and tenacity have paid off, and last summer, when volunteers were in short supply, we were featured by News 15, News Channel 3, and PBS Horizons. These features provided us with many inquiries about our program, and because of his efforts, we have onboarded many new amazing volunteers.
Do you know someone who has a passion for visiting with others like Ford? If so, please share his story of compassion to help inspire others to give their time like Ford!
