LITA (Love Is The Answer)

Mission Statement

Founded in 1975, nonprofit organization LITA (Love is the Answer) is a Marin county that strives to improve the quality of life for older adults living in long-term care facilities by providing volunteer friends for regular visits and a variety of volunteer programs specifically designed to create meaningful connections. With the steady increase of Marin County's older adult population, LITA's programs to help cultivate mutually enriching social connections through: One-to-One friends Bridging Generations Bridging Thru Music Bridging Thru the Arts Family Connections Caring Connections Dementia training & Support Pet Connections Seniors in the Park During the Covid pandemic, LITA coordinates: Card & Letter writing to residents isolated within their facilities Supports Phone & Video Chats between volunteers and their friends who reside in care communities Loans out e-tablets in to in-need facilities to help residents maintain social connections with family and friends Donates resourced items to faciliities for resident engagement such as magazines, radios, quilts, scarves, games, puzzles, arts/crafts supplies. Pre and Post Pandemic: LITA works with and places volunteers primarily in retirement and long-term care licensed communities. Through volunteer recruitment, screening and interviewing, volunteers are assessed for volunteer visiting readiness. Pets are evaluated and assessed for the Pet Connection program based on professional pet agency guidelines. References are a requirement and contacted for volunteering with LITA. Volunteer orientations are scheduled per Director and Volunteer availability. LITA's Director of volunteers provides ongoing and as-needed guidance, support, information to all volunteers. This includes brown bag lunch & learns, Memory Care Buddies workshops and annual volunteer celebration events. Some of the county events LITA participates in are the annual Marin County Senior Fair, and CVNL's Volunteer Fair.