“The patients are some of the most caring, most sensitive people in the whole world; they recognize that there really is hope.” These are the words of Sandy Manderfeld, Program Director of Senior Helping Hands (SHH).  Sandy “Lives United” by aiding individuals with their recovery from chemical and mental health problems.

SHH is a partner program of United Way of Central Minnesota.  The program has been successfully helping older adults identify and begin recovering from chemical dependency and mental health problems since 1985.  Sandy has been with Senior Helping Hands for the last 21 years.  She is the only full-time employee; the program relies almost entirely on volunteers. 

Many generous persons dedicate their time to the program – SHH currently has 130 active volunteers.  They predominantly deal with education and outreach, in talking about addiction and mental health with the patients.  Many of the volunteers are recovered patients, and their participation is crucial to the success of the program, as they understand the issues facing the seniors in recovery first hand and can help them become committed to and involved in their own sobriety.  Sandy believes that this is the key to the effectiveness of the program, in how ex-patients “share their story, tell of their success, and act as model ‘recoverers’ for the other patients.”