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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]AARP can be a good resource for many aspects of geriatric care: https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/
There are many for-profit ($$) organizations out there. 
Right now, it sounds as if you just need a break--maybe an hour or two to take a walk/go get a cuppa coffee/say you're going holiday shopping or have a work event--and I agree with the person who says a college student or even [b]a mature high school student seeking SSL hours could come and play cards, a board game, or watch whatever on TV. When your MIL needs more care, you can explore other options.[/b] For some people (read: husbands, brothers) they are just not programmed to help. So you have to be very specific in your requests. Not: "Can you just be with your mom for an HOUR??" but "Tomorrow at 4PM, I need to go out. Please look at this scrapbook/teach your mom a new card game/watch specific program she likes on TV, not the news until 6PM? And I'll come home with a pizza for dinner." Good luck, OP. You are NOT evil or selfish, but human. [/quote]

new poster here
I'm not sure what SSL hours are;  I'm assuming service hours for some type of honors or service organization like National Honor Society?   Personal servitude wouldn't count for hours in any of the organizations my kids have been in.[/quote]

I know in the DMV area there are aging in place groups that have volunteers that help in many different areas (Northwest Neighbors in upper NW DC, believe similar for CC MD, etc.).  A teenager could volunteer for an organization like that and then help with your mom for community service hours...or there may be existing volunteers willing to lend a hand.[/quote]

The Northewest Neighbors volunteer application states that most volunteers need to be 18 or older.   It makes sense-the organization wouldn't want to send minors into people's homes because that could be a liability.[/quote]

18 is still a teenager with the bulk seniors in HS.[/quote]

Really?  Do you have stats to back that up?   Maybe it's been your experience with your kids and your kids' friends, but it hasn't been my experience.   I have four kids that have graduated high school in the last 8 years.   All of them, at this point (December 6 of their senior year) were still 17.   Some of their friends and classmates may have already been 18, but most of them turned 18 later in the school year or even after graduation.   By mid spring (and certainly after graduation) they have already completed any service hours they need.

OP can certainly contact an organization like that to see if they can send a volunteer to visit with her MIL, but they way it was presented above (I'm not sure if it was you or a different poster) made it sound like they expected it could be a teenager OP was already familiar with (like a neighbor or family friend) who would go through the organization so the service hours could count.
I think that's unrealistic as it would involve
- a high school student that is already 18 and still needs service hours
- the organization assigning the student to OP's family, instead of just whichever senior had the greatest need/had been waiting the longest
-the student being available during the hours OP needs.   [/quote]

My kid and at least 75% of my kid's friends are seniors and have turned 18 already.

Not sure why this one factoid would cause you to write several paragraphs...i agree you contact the organization and they send someone out.  Honestly, like 99% of the Northwest Neighbors volunteers are 50+.  It's not a popular volunteer option for basically anyone youngish.[/quote]

Right, which is why I thought it was unrealistic that a pp (you?  Someone else?) suggested for OP to find a teen and encourage them to use the organization as a means to get the teen's service hours accomplished while helping OP.[/quote]

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