Quinin Velez Rivera – Bringing friendship and independence to Boston elders

Community Service - Quinin Velez Rivera, a vibrant and tireless 71 years old, has been a full time volunteer for FriendshipWorks La Cadena de Amistad in Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood for over six years.

Quinin, originally from Puerto Rico, coordinates Friendly Visiting, medical escort services and support services for a primarily Spanish speaking elder community.

In the past year alone she has completed 172 medical escort trips for FriendshipWorks. Quinin accompanies elders to and from their medical appointments every week, helping them navigate confusing medical centers and doctor’s offices, pick up prescriptions and necessities, and return safely home. She is involved from start to finish, helping them feel supported and safe the entire time.

Quinin is currently a Friendly Visitor to seven seniors, visiting each of them weekly and sharing company, conversation, friendship and her time.

Quinin, an active member of her church, First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain, is responsible for bringing the items for the communion each month, and recruits and welcomes other neighborhood seniors to the Saturday Crossroads Café lunch and afternoon social activity hosted by the church.

Sharing Knowledge As a former teacher, Quinin is always interested in learning and in sharing her knowledge. She is enrolled in a computer class that meets twice a week, and she is also a core faculty member of a class at Harvard Medical School: “Health Management for Older Adults”. David Satin MD, Director, says of Quinin: “She has been a great asset, adding the perspective and needs of older adults that complement the approaches of professionals. She also reminds us of issues of culture and language that must broaden and adapt health care to address the needs of all older adult populations. She has been attentive, thoughtful, and helpful to students and faculty, and is often called upon as consultant to many aspects of the course”.

Quinin is an inspiration to volunteers, the Jamaica Plain Elder community, to all of the organizations with which she works and to the seniors she assists and befriends.