It is easy to understand why people like to stay
in their
own
homes
as they grow older. One way an older person can feel
comfortable
about
keeping up with routine home maintenance is by looking to the other end
of the age spectrum, and hiring a high school student to help.
In North Toronto, the non-profit SAINTS
program is
a registry
of
students who offer "an extra pair of hands" to help
homeowners with
such seasonal outdoor chores as cutting grass, shovelling snow, raking
leaves, planting, pruning and exterior painting. For both apartment and
house dwellers, the students also perform a range of "indoor" jobs on a
year-round basis, ranging from vacuuming and tidying to clearing out
those
high closet shelves you've always meant to tackle. Armed with a list,
students
shop for food or run errands in the neighbourhood. SAINTS walk dogs,
address
Christmas cards, move patio furniture, and yes, we even do windows.
Seniors
expect that while students are not professionals, they will try their
best,
and will be eager to learn! Our current rate of pay is $9.00 per hour,
with a one-hour minimum, paid directly to the student when the work is
done.
Both groups can feel lonely
and are often
very comfortable
communicating
with their new friends across a large span of years, while negative
images
are laid to rest. It's amazing to hear the students talk about the ways
meeting an older generation has changed their views, and how
interesting
they find their clients' life stories. Seniors find it refreshing to
listen
to the views of today's young people--one SAINTS worker complained (in
mock exasperation): "I went to Mrs. S's apartment to vacuum, and she
only
wanted to have tea and hear about my school work and interests!" Some
friendships
have kept the SAINT and senior in touch long after the student has
graduated.
While clients receive enthusiastic, low-cost
help with
household
chores,
students learn new job skills which will be useful in later life. At
the
same time, they gather references for university applications or future
work positions. They also learn that someone is depending on them to
honour
commitments, and that the work they do makes a real difference in
someone's
life. SAINTS hopes that the positive experiences a student has will be
reflected in later years as the young person chooses other volunteer
commitments.
There are some limits to the ability of
SAINTS to
help a senior:
students are not trained to do personal care (ie. bathing or lifting),
nor are they skilled in electrical wiring, plumbing or roof work.
SAINTS
are unable to offer chauffeuring skills, although they can accompany a
client on a shopping trip.
When students join the program, they
are required
to supply two
references
(one from school and one from the community) to assure us that they are
honest, reliable and suited to working with seniors. Clients are
requested
to review their home insurance, as they will be the "employer" of the
young
person and are thus responsible for personal injury claims on their
property.
While SAINTS offers an excellent "first level"
of service,
we
become
aware that the needs of some clients are too complex for a student to
cope
with. We are closely linked with other local services such
as
SPRINT
(Senior Peoples' Resources in North Toronto) and Yorkminster Park Meals
on Wheels, so we can work together to provide the most appropriate
package
of in-home care.
SAINTS help a larger group than just
those over 65.
We also
try
to assist disabled adults, whether the problem is chronic, or a
temporary
condition which interferes with doing household chores. A broken wrist
or bad back can make it very difficult to vacuum, shovel snow or do
basic
shopping! For all groups, we offer help on a continuing basis, or for
"one-time"
projects.
How does one reach the SAINTS?
We're only a click away or if you like, a phone call away, at
(416)481-6284,
and our friendly 24 hour answering machine will accept calls if there
is
noone in the office.
Our boundaries cover North Toronto from
Bathurst to Bayview, and Bloor Street to
Highway
401
(For
a map, click here). We may be able to offer help outside
these
limits
on occasion, or refer seniors to programs in their own area.
Many other parts of Metro have at
least an
outdoor
jobs
registry.
To
view a map of services in other parts of Toronto please click here.
Seniors can also call the Guidance Department of
their local
high school, and request assistance in finding a student worker.
If you or a neighbour would like to hire a
cheerful,
energetic
SAINT,
just call. You'll not only be helping a student learn job skills,
you'll
be making a new friend!
