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Jamie Lusch / Mail Tribune Ed Reed, left, Nan Gunderson and Stewart McCollom are peer counselors who serve Jackson County senior clients for the Age Wise Age Well program.
Trained volunteers come from all walks of life
Retired therapist Ed Reed was wondering what he could do to help during the pandemic when he spotted his neighbor Stewart McCollom, a retired business owner.
“I wanted something to do to use my skills and give back to the community,” Reed recalls. “I ran into Stewart while walking his dog. He told me about the Age Wise Age Well program. I said, ‘Wow! It’s awesome!'”
The Jackson County program trains seniors from all walks of life to become volunteer peer counselors for other seniors. Program clients benefit from a free weekly counseling session to discuss a range of issues, from losing a sense of identity after retirement to dealing with the loss of a spouse.
“It’s a very useful thing for the community – both for us as volunteers and for the people who need someone to listen to them and discuss issues,” Reed said.
The program accepts new clients as well as new volunteers.
Reed retired from his career as a Registered Therapist in 2019. Now a volunteer with the Age Wise Age Well program, he has a few clients himself and also arranges the initial conversations with referrals to the program.
The program has a dozen counselors who each see one to four clients each. Normally, an advisor and a client meet individually in person, usually at the client’s home. During the pandemic, counseling sessions are conducted by phone or online video conference.
Reed said the volunteers, who come from a variety of backgrounds, do well as counselors.
“I was very impressed with the skills of the people. There is wealth that comes from people from different professions. Everyone has a real desire to be a good listener and to be empathetic, ”he said.
McCollom, now 93, helped start peer counseling for Jackson County seniors. He has been working as an advisor since 1990.
McCollom said it made sense to start peer counseling for Rogue Valley seniors, as so many people are retiring here. The area also has a large number of retirement communities and nursing homes.
McCollom said relationship issues are the most common issues people face, whether it’s relationships with a spouse, adult children, or other members of the community.
The second most common set of problems relates to aging. Many people worry about their health and experience isolation, he said.
“We’re looking at all of these types of aging issues,” McCollom said. “Sometimes people are anxious. Sometimes there is guilt for something they think they did wrong. There can be frustration, especially among men who had high-level jobs and now do nothing and feel like they are losing their identity.
McCollom said some people have unresolved issues from the past and need help getting over their feelings in order to move on.
Nan Gunderson, a retired volunteer counselor and clinical social worker, said that with all the upheavals and changes over the past few years, people need someone more than ever before.
“Having someone to talk to, evacuating and resolving issues is essential,” she said.
Gunderson said clients often face some type of loss, such as the loss of a home, a spouse, some of their physical ability or a career after retirement.
“Maybe they retired or had to quit because of a health problem, or they were caregivers but their loved one died or had to go to a facility. They are going through a transition that begins as a loss, ”she said.
Gunderson said the counselors listened intently to people’s stories about their lives and current experiences.
While face-to-face meetings between clients and advisors are on hiatus for now, Gunderson said advisers haven’t stopped them from helping clients over the phone or by computer.
“We look forward to when we can resume our in-person meetings, but we don’t let that hold us back. It’s a good program and it’s still useful, ”she said.
The Age Wise Age Well program is sponsored by the Community Volunteer Network.
Referrals to the program declined somewhat during the pandemic because people are visiting their doctors less often, said Community Volunteer Network executive director Kristin Milligan.
People can call and ask for advice, or health workers, relatives, friends and neighbors can refer someone they think might benefit from the counseling service.
Milligan said seniors often feel more comfortable talking to other seniors who are having the same shared experiences.
Because the service is free, it fills a gap in the community. Even insured people often run out of coverage for therapy sessions, said Brooke Kirkland, coordinator of the Age Wise Age Well program.
During the admissions process, people with serious mental health issues may be referred for professional help if their needs are beyond the scope of the program.
Kirkland said volunteer counselors are at the heart of the Age Wise Age Well program.
Advisors meet weekly for a confidential conversation about their clients’ issues. With their diverse mix of backgrounds and experiences, they help each other to better help their clients, Kirkland said.
“The group of 12 active counselors are so dedicated and they care so much about the people they serve,” she said. “I can’t imagine a more compassionate group. “
Gunderson, one of the counselors, said the volunteers genuinely enjoy talking with their clients.
“It’s uplifting for all of our peer counselors because we feel we are offering something meaningful. I think it’s uplifting for our clients because they know we’ll be there every week. We are reliable and trained and we care about ourselves, ”she said.
Gunderson said she knew it was difficult for people to seek help and seek advice. But she said people feel better once they start talking to someone they trust on a regular basis.
“Pick up that phone,” she urged.
To apply for counseling yourself or to refer someone for counseling, or to volunteer to become a qualified peer counselor, call 541-646-3402.
Join Mail Tribune reporter Vickie Aldous at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @VickieAldous.
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