Join the Summit Area YMCA in connecting local seniors with the community through a monthly series of Senior Manicure Saturdays at the Vito Gallo Summit Senior Center. Volunteers will provide hand massages and light manicures to residents of the Senior Center to help brighten their day. Additional opportunities for these events include making home baked treats for senior center participants.
JANUARY 14
FEBRUARY 11
MARCH 11
APRIL 8
MAY 13
JUNE 10
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Location: Summit Vito Gallo Senior Center
The manicures and hand massages not only offer physical benefits such as pain relief from arthritis and improved circulation, but also provide relaxation and a social connection for the seniors. These events allow the residents to socialize and interact with each other and the volunteers which help minimize isolation that many seniors may experience. According to AARP, the increase in which adults do not have children within the past few decades have consequentially led to fewer family members that are able to provide the care and company that adults need as seniors. Senior isolation can be alarming and even harmful, as the lack of social interactions and contacts decrease over time due to death, lack of mobility, retirement and more. Extended loneliness and perceived loneliness can contribute to not only cognitive decline, but also in increase in the risk for dementia, depression, high blood pressure and more. Participating volunteers also report an increased sense of fulfillment, meeting new friends, and gaining more understanding and knowledge from their conversations with the elder generation.
The series is brought to the community by the Summit Area YMCA’s Togetherhood™ Program a member-led community service program in which members plan and participate in volunteer projects facilitated by the Summit Area YMCA such as the Senior Manicure Saturdays, SHIP (Summit Helping Its People) food drives, and more.
Questions? Contact:
Financial Assistance & Volunteer Coordinator
SUMMIT AREA YMCA
(908) 273-3330 ext. 1174