jenna dosch/viewAttorney Robert Nelson-Kortland, right, advises William Gilmore, left, on financial strategies for legal issues he is currently facing. The Las Vegas Senior Center is located at 451 E. Bonanza Road. jenna dosch/viewSenior peer volunteers Becky Galaudet, left, Judy Gordon, center, and Faye Margolis meet weekly for their training sessions at 100 Green Valley Parkway. Jenna dosch/viewLike many of the senior peer counselor volunteers, Pam Waid, left, used to be a registered nurse. Seated next to Waid is counselor Maureen Murphy.

Sometimes, you just need someone to listen to you. Friends and family mean well, but it might be hard to share certain things with people who are so close to you.

St. Rose Dominican Hospitals has a solution. Senior Peer Counseling, a nation-wide program designed by the Center for Healthy Aging, provides personal and supportive counseling to people facing challenges and concerns of growing older.

Both clients and counselors are men and women 50 years old and older.

The program's 25 volunteers spent 55 hours in training before meeting with their clients.

"(Training) was awesome," said Judy Gordon, a retired nurse. "We shared. We learned to trust each other."

The training consisted of numerous guest speakers, including professionals who presented talks on subjects such as suicide, Medicare, Alzheimer's, and death and grieving. Other topics included discussions about retirement, health concerns, relationships and loneliness.

Dr. Judy Nelson, a licensed clinical psychologist, said it's important for counselors to be well-rounded because they don't always know what is going to come up with their clients.

"I thought I was a good listener," said peer counselor Lillian Roban. "I didn't know as much as I thought I did."

Counselors meet with Nelson and a social worker for two hours of training and ongoing supervision every week.

Clients first speak with a social worker to determine if they are right for the program and could be asked to speak with professional counselors if it's deemed necessary.

"Confidentially is the most important aspect," Nelson said. "Counselors don't talk to spouses, children or next-door neighbors about their clients."

Senior Peer Counseling started about 25 years ago in Southern California. Nelson said a woman who participated in the service in Glendale, Calif., and moved to the Las Vegas Valley suggested that St. Rose Hospitals offer the counseling. The first training classes started in September 2007.

Nelson said now that the counselors are trained, the program is looking for clients.

"It's amazing how they are able to match up similar people," Roban said.

Counselor Patti McCurdy said that when she met her client, the person was so excited to see that the counselor was the same age.

"When you walk in and the counselor is 27, it can be intimidating," Nelson said.

Nelson said the counselors don't solve the client's problems. They help them come to solutions.

"I've always thought counseling was the frosting on the cake," Gordon said. "It's really valuable. If you get in touch with feelings more, we would take less pills."

Clients and counselors must be at least 50 years old. There is a $10 donation fee for each session, or a donation based on what the client can afford. Nelson said counselors generally meet with their clients once a week, but the length of counseling services depends on individual needs.

All counseling sessions are held in private rooms during the day at a time that works for the clients and counselors. They can meet in Henderson at the St. Rose de Lima campus, 102 E. Lake Mead Parkway and Parkway Medical Plaza, 100 N. Green Valley Parkway, Suite 330, or in Las Vegas at San Martin Campus, 8280 W. Warm Springs Road and Tarkanian Plaza, 7220 S. Cimarron Road, Suite 195.

If clients are in an assisted-living facility or have other extenuating circumstances, meetings can be held outside of the St. Rose hospitals.

To speak with a social worker, or for more information on the program, call 616-4900.