California's Aging Opportunity

Recommendation III. Incent Intensive Service

The Challenge

• Not enough opportunities: Although there are intensive service opportunities of 10-20 hours per week through existing programs (e.g., Foster Grandparent Programs, Senior Companion Programs, Experience Corps program, AmeriCorps and VISTA), there are a relatively small number of such opportunities given the current level of interest.
  
  
• Need for collaboration on many fronts: The Corporation for National and Community Service network (Senior Corps and VISTA); CaliforniaVolunteers AmeriCorps grantees and other initiatives; independent programs models, such as Experience Corps; and many other local organizations and institutions are already well suited to and interested in hosting intensive stipended service opportunities. However, they don't have the resources or capacity to expand such opportunities on their own.

Taking Action

Create more intensive service opportunities: Establish a state grant program to support intensive, sustained service opportunities of 10-20 hours per week for older adults. Service opportunities should reflect the best practices of Senior Corps, Experience Corps, AmeriCorps and VISTA and include options to allow flexibility and freedom. This state grant program should expand existing service programs and add new ones in geographic and issue areas that aren't currently being served.

Offer meaningful incentives: Develop new types of incentives and offer a choice to those who take on intensive service roles. Possible incentives include stipends, health insurance, travel reimbursement, prescription drug benefits, transferable education award or other benefits for themselves or their families.

Look for national connections: Work with the federal Corporation for National and Community Service to inform the reauthorization of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act, which includes Senior Corps and VISTA, and the National and Community Service Trust Act, which includes AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve America. Encourage expanded federal support and changes that would allow programs to better respond to today's aging population.

• A 2004 report from the Progressive Policy Institute, Boomer Corps: Activating Seniors for National Service provides one model for taking action. This report proposes a "Boomer Corps" which would mobilize retirees 55 years and older to serve 25 hours per week for one year or more in innovative, grassroots civic projects.
• A 2007 report from Civic Ventures, Boomers and National Service: Learning from the Success of Youth Service examines how the lessons of the grassroots youth service movement could be applied to mobilizing public-minded older adults on a national level.