Corey Hutt and Brenda Watson are pictured in their Oneida home office where they operate Seniors Helping Seniors. (Photo by Margo Frink)
By Margo Frink
(Oneida, NY – Jan. 2013
) You see it all the time: senior citizens helping other senior citizens by taking them shopping, to doctors appointments or out for a bite to eat for some companionship. Most of these seniors volunteer their time. But there is a local business that will pay seniors to help others.
Seniors Helping Seniors is a non-medical, homecare business that offers seniors in-home services by other seniors.
Brenda Watson and her son-in-law Corey Hutt have operated their Seniors Helping Seniors business out of Hutt’s Oneida home for the last two years. They cover Onondaga, Cortland and parts of Madison County.
“Seniors do it to make a little extra money, or for the self-worth,” Watson said.
But there is more to it than just that. Watson said it becomes personal.
There is a screening process where providers are matched up based on specific criteria including needs and personalities. The client and the provider get to know each other and become comfortable with each other.
Watson said they look for loving, caring and compassionate people who have “the heart of a volunteer.”
“Providers are never put in harm’s way. They look after each other and become friends,” Watson said.
Some of the positive feedback has been life changing or inspiring, Watson said.
Hutt and Watson got involved because they too care about people and wanted to give back to the community.
“We are creating a community where people care about each other,” Hutt said.
Some of the services provided include companionship, meal preparation, light housekeeping and transportation; overnight supervision, travel planning, mobility assistance, 24-hour care, yard work, house maintenance and small repairs.
“We help people stay home so they don’t have to go into a nursing home,” Watson said.
Seniors Helping Seniors was founded in 1998. Its mission is to provide seniors with the ability to choose an independent lifestyle in their homes for as long as possible with the dignity and respect they deserve by finding caring seniors to help each other.
For more information on services or how to become a provider, call Watson or Hutt at 315-280-0739.