Interfaith Caregivers
of the Northwest Bronx

Welcome • Schedule • Directions • Music • History • Architecture • Events & Outreach • Sermons

The Heart and Spirit of Community

• Helen is 85 years old. She has lived alone in her house for over half a century. Her health isn't what it once was, but she still desires her independence. Having a friendly visitor or someone to help with the groceries would be a comfort.
• Exactly one year ago Jim was diagnosed with liver cancer. Chemotherapy has kept the disease at bay, but it has sapped his strength. Now, even simple household chores like trimming the bushes and changing lightbulbs are more than he can handle.
• Lucy has been caring for her father ever since he broke his hip. In addition to her full-time job, she visits him every day to help with the meals and do a few light chores. However, Lucy has a family of her own and she is looking forward to her daughter's Spring Recital.
• Paying for a daily taxi ride is expensive but necessary for Amanda. Her dialysis treatment at the hospital leaves her feeling lonely and a little scared. Besides, the treatments leave her too tired to try and tackle the bus alone.

Members of Saint James Episcopal Church, Fordham, are blessed to be able to respond to life situations like these, through the Interfaith Caregivers of the Northwest Bronx, a program sponsored by Schervier Nursing Care Center and The Hebrew Home for the Aged at Riverdale. We are pleased to join our Jewish and Roman Catholic brothers and sisters in this effort, as the first Episcopal congregation to provide volunteers in this effort.

The help that volunteers provide consists of

• Friendly visiting and light errands... The need for companionship or help with light shopping should not spell the end of independence. Interfaith Caregivers provide the kind of help and support that can make the difference between continuing to live at home and having to uproot a lifetime of memories.
• Minor home repairs, inside and out... Staying in your own home can present a challenge. Simple home maintenance - a leaky faucet, the stiff doorknob, the snow to shovel - takes on major significance when age and disability intervene. Interfaith Caregivers lend a helping hand to those who physically cannot meet the demands of home maintenance.
• Respite care... Caring for an elderly relative takes a toll on the whole family. Interfaith Caregivers allow a family member to take a break, improving the quality of life for all involved.
• Local transportation and escorts... While the cost of medical care may be covered by insurance, many of the accompanying costs can be overlooked. Interfaith Caregivers enable individuals to remain in their homes and receive outpatient treatments, often eliminating the need for hospitalization or nursing home care.

A voluntary gift of love and compassion

Volunteers from Saint James receive no remuneration for the work they do as Interfaith Caregivers of the Northwest Bronx -- no matter how they may visit, escort or shop. They do receive one of the greatest payments of all: the heartwarming satisfaction of helping another human being in a time of need.

If you or someone you know needs these services, please call the numbers listed below. If you can assist our efforts either by volunteering your time as an Interfaith Caregiver, please contact Ms. Eliza Davies, the parish coordinator for the program, at 914-375-3846.

Project Director Office locations

Monday & Tuesday
The Hebrew Home for the Aged at Riverdale
3260 Henry Hudson Parkway
Bronx, New York 10463
718-549-1700, x1062

About Interfaith Caregivers of the Northwest Bronx

Interfaith Caregivers of the Northwest Bronx, affiliated with the National Federation of Volunteer Caregivers, Inc., is a volunteer organization founded in 1998 through a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Sponsored by Schervier Nursing Care Center and The Hebrew Home for the Aged at Riverdale, the program seeks to meet the special needs of the elderly members of our community.

Volunteers from participating congregations and social agencies perform a variety of tasks designed to allow these individuals to remain independent and at home. Ongoing training increases volunteers' awareness of local senior services.

A Project Director administers Interfaith Caregivers with the assistance of an Advisory Committee from area congregations and community agencies.