Mercy Care’s newly trained friendship volunteers, seated from left, are Peter Roland, Cindy Gallagher, Deb Story, Maxine O’Reilly, Paul Collins. In the back row, from left, are: Annabelle Favet, Lorraine Becker, Diane Armstrong-Kane, Peggy Silverstein, Valerie Ireland, Keith Murphy and Marge Murphy. (Provided photo)

LAKE PLACID — Mercy Care for the Adirondacks trained and commissioned 12 new friendship volunteers on May 15 at Heaven Hill Farm in Lake Placid.

Volunteers learned about offering friendship and assistance to elders in sessions on healthy aging, spirituality and aging, community resources for elders, how to recognize scams aimed at older adults, understanding the types and signs of dementia, and the effects of isolation and loneliness on the aging population. New volunteers also heard from experienced Mercy Care friendship volunteers who find purposeful service to their elder friends to be meaningful in their own lives.

Mercy Care friendship volunteers provide informal supports such as assistance with grocery shopping, transportation to medical appointments or social outings, or visiting with an elder in their home.

These new volunteers will join Mercy Care’s more than 100 friendship volunteers from Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake and surrounding areas who are helping their elder neighbors stay connected to their communities and helping to make their lives a little easier and happier. Volunteers of all faiths are encouraged and invited to participate.

Mercy Care is experiencing many new requests from elders in our community who need friends and assistance to help them age in place more successfully. Mercy Care serves any older adult in need within its capacity.

Can you help?

Mercy Care receives requests for a friendship volunteer from elders themselves, their families, or friends, to help them with informal supports and ease their isolation and loneliness.

Mercy Care’s next friendship volunteer training will be held Sept. 25 in Saranac Lake. Mercy Care invites anyone in the Tri-Lakes region and surrounding communities interested in becoming a volunteer to take the training. To register, visit Mercy Care’s website at www.adkmercy.org or contact Lexi Bevilacqua, Mercy Care’s program director, at abevilacqua@adkmercy.org or call Bevilacqua for more information at 518-523-5446.