Column: River House

By Stephanie Radman

Stephanie Radman

I had been a longtime volunteer for a few local nonprofits when I realized over the summer that I wanted to do more. For years, I had been delivering for Meals on Wheels of New Canaan, serving meals at the Open Door Shelter in Norwalk and creating floral arrangements with the residents at Waveny Care Center in New Canaan. I saw firsthand how a little smile could make a real difference in peoples lives. My Meals on Wheels partner and I began cutting flowers from our own gardens to deliver to our ten Meals on Wheels clients along with their meals each month. This small gesture brought an abundance of happiness to our neighbors. Smiles were abounding!

Toward the end of the summer, I began to look for a job. Initially, I was not sure where I would land. I knew that I truly enjoyed working with senior citizens and I had experience volunteering. I came across a position at the River House Adult Day Center in Cos Cob and I have been smiling ever since.

River House Adult Day Center (River House) addresses the impact of aging on families in our community by providing comprehensive, recreational and medical services to aging adults while offering guidance and support to their caregivers. Each day over 50 aging adults who wish to remain in the community but require daytime assistance, come to River House to participate in vibrant activities, socialize with their peers, and receive compassionate care.

River House is committed to providing the highest quality care to aging adults. At River House, members participate in vibrant activities, socialize with peers, and receive compassionate care. Members who are often challenged with Dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Traumatic Brain Injuries, and other age-related ailments, benefit from River House’s team of nurses, health aides, social workers, therapeutic recreation staff and volunteers alike.

River House follows an accredited medical model where nurses work with every member, their doctor, and their family to provide a personalized care plan. The medical care combined with socialization and therapeutic recreational activities throughout the day improves the quality of life for our members and their families. Caregivers are given the freedom to return to their other obligations and have peace of mind knowing that their loved one is safe and happy.

The River House family would not be complete without the many volunteers who visit with members, assist with activities, and use their unique skills and talents to provide members with wonderful new experiences. Our volunteers chose River House and we are truly grateful to them for choosing to spend their time with us.

To quote a volunteer: “The River House has been a great experience for me. All of the people are genuine and there is always a happy vibe. I appreciate the opportunity to give back to the community”. As a River House volunteer, you will become part of a vibrant and caring team, welcomed and deeply appreciated by our residents, our staff, and fellow volunteers.

Volunteering your time and energy to help others doesn’t just make the world better—it also makes you better. Studies indicate that the very act of giving back to the community boosts your happiness, health, and sense of well-being.

We are always looking for volunteers to join our wonderful family here at River House. There are a variety of ways to help out at River House:

– Work side by side with trained recreation specialists to assist members with a variety of activities including: gardening, arts, music, games, crafts, dancing, serving lunch and more!

– Accompany staff and members on community outings to local parks, libraries, beaches, gardens, and museums.

– Sing, act, read dance or entertain our members with your special talent.

– Present an educational program or discuss current events.

Come join the River House family, I promise that you will be smiling, too! For more information on volunteering at the River House, please contact Stephanie Radman, sradman@theriverhouse.org, 203.622.0079.

Stephanie Radman is the Volunteer and Events Coordinator at River House Adult Day Center in Cos Cob. Although she was a finance and business major, Stephanie found her calling is being with people. Stephanie lives in New Canaan with her husband and three children.

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