Volunteer Guardian Program- Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging

The Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging is the front door for senior support and services in the following counties: Franklin, Delaware, Licking, Fairfield, Pickaway, Fayette, Union and Madison The Volunteer Guardian Program is one of the agency's long-standing programs designed to fill a gap in needed service to older adults that exists when there is no family support. The program has operated in 6 of the 8 counties served by the agency for over 35 years.

The Volunteer Guardian Program at COAAA trains and supports volunteers to be guardians/advocates for isolated adults age 60+ who live in nursing homes and who do not have any involved family/friends. Volunteers typical work with one older adult at a time and get to know them by visiting them (any length of time) twice per month at times convenient to the volunteer. Program staff are experts at teaching and advising on advocacy for older adults in this setting and are readily available to the volunteer.