What is a Papa Pal?

What is a Papa Pal? Papa Pals are individuals with a passion for caregiving and helping others.

Papa Pals work as part-time companion caregivers. They support Papa members—older adults, seniors, and families—with companionship and help with everyday tasks. Papa Pals set their own schedules and choose when and how often they work.

Papa Pals can help Papa members in many ways. They can drive them to doctor's appointments and run errands. They can give a helping hand at the grocery store or the pharmacy. Papa Pals can accompany members on walks and do light exercise together. Papa Pals can also help members around the house with laundry, technology support, light cleaning, pet care, and meal prep, and other basic household tasks.

Above all, the most important part of a Papa Pal's work is providing companionship.

Being a Papa Pal is not just about getting things done. Papa Pals primarily offer companionship.

Loneliness is a big problem for older adults in the United States, and has only increased since the Covid-19 pandemic. Papa Pals can step in and spend time with a member playing board games, learning basic technology, taking a walk, and doing a jigsaw puzzle.

Papa Pals are friendly, kind, reliable, and empathetic people. While no two Papa Pals are the same, all want to make a difference in the community.

Some Papa Pals are parents who want to work while the kids are in school. Others are retirees who want to continue working part-time. Some are interested in a career in companion caregiving as a career—for example, they are interested in gaining experience in social work, community services, or nursing. Others are looking for the chance to give back to their communities by helping those who may need a bit of extra care.

Being a Papa Pal is not just about helping someone with daily tasks—it's about making them feel part of the world beyond their front door. Papa Pals get a great sense of satisfaction and accomplishment when they develop a relationship with members.

Many part-time jobs are available in industries like food service, retail, or working for delivery services. All of these are worthwhile, but being a Papa Pal has the added perk of making someone's life better through personal connection.

You're needed in your community.

If helping older adults, seniors, and families sounds like a good job for you, apply to become a Papa Pal.