Senior Village Helps When You Need It

August 2026

Sinclair Browning

After Jaci Nissen’s husband passed away in early 2019, feeling overwhelmed with the basic home repairs and maintenance she was now facing alone, she made her first call to Senior Village requesting assistance.

“Carolyn Davis, who continues to be a Membership Intake Volunteer today, came to my home and handled my signing up in such a professional and kindly manner,” Jaci says.  “After she left, I had a wonderful feeling of relief that someone was there for me.”

That visit was followed by one from Bob Alvarez, a volunteer with the Helping Hands team who came to her rescue using his skills to tackle the home projects that had challenged her. As they talked, he suggested that she might consider volunteering for Senior Village.

“A few months later as I struggled with what to do with all of my extra time in a worthy way, I remembered Bob’s sage advice,” says Jaci.  “After seeing firsthand what a positive difference the organization could make in a member’s life, I volunteered with the Membership Intake team.”

She enjoys meeting with prospective new members and helping them enroll in Senior Village. Quickly becoming a co-lead of her team, she continues in that role today, along with Dianne Monza.  “We are the first contact new members meet and it’s so rewarding,” Nissen says.

After a prospective member calls Senior Village, the co-lead finds a volunteer (there are currently 25 on the team) to meet with them for about an hour to explain the services Senior Village offers and to complete the necessary paperwork.  The information is entered into the database, and the forms and payment are delivered to Jaci who reviews it and takes it to the Senior Village office.

“While it’s always better if people plan ahead to avoid a crisis, sometimes residents need our services immediately,” Jaci explains.  “In those instances, we do our best to expedite the process so new members can receive the support they need as quickly as possible.”

Offering a variety of services from driving people to medical appointments, grocery shopping and errands, helping with home technology, forms and documents, doing basic home repairs and maintenance, installing lockboxes and even offering support to members who need to make critical decisions about their living arrangements.

“I’ve enjoyed the many perspective new members I have met over the past 6 years as I’ve been able to assist them in their time of need just as my needs were met in 2019,” Jaci says.  “I just can’t say enough good things about Senior Village and how fortunate I am to be a part of this special organization and team.”

Senior Village membership is a real bargain. To learn more about becoming a member, call 520-314-1042 ext. 1 or go to the website at seniorvillage.org. Annual dues, which include 72 services a year, are $60 for an individual or $96 for a household.