Grants and contracts for volunteer service projects

The Director is authorized to make grants to or contracts with public and nonprofit private agencies and organizations to pay part or all of the cost of development and operation of projects (including direct payments to individuals serving under this part in the same manner as provided in section 5011(a) of this title ) designed for the purpose of providing opportunities for low-income persons age 55 or older to serve as “senior companions” to persons with exceptional needs. Senior companions may provide services designed to help older persons requiring long-term care, including services to persons receiving home health care, nursing care, home-delivered meals or other nutrition services; services designed to help persons deinstitutionalized from mental hospitals, nursing homes, and other institutions; and services designed to assist persons having developmental disabilities and other special needs for companionship.

( Pub. L. 93–113, title II, § 213 , as added Pub. L. 97–35, title VI, § 608(c)(2) , Aug. 13, 1981 , 95 Stat. 487 ; amended Pub. L. 98–288, § 15 , May 21, 1984 , 98 Stat. 193 ; Pub. L. 99–551 , §§ 7(b), 10(c)(1), Oct. 27, 1986 , 100 Stat. 3075 , 3077; Pub. L. 101–204, title IX, § 902(5) , Dec. 7, 1989 , 103 Stat. 1826 ; Pub. L. 103–82, title III, § 347 , Sept. 21, 1993 , 107 Stat. 905 ; Pub. L. 111–13, title II, § 2145 , Apr. 21, 2009 , 123 Stat. 1589 .)