January 2010
There is a common wisdom that those who give of themselves also receive. The benefits of volunteering are not limited to the recipients of the volunteer services…the benefits are derived from serving.
Those who volunteer have lower mortality rates, greater functional ability and lower rates of depression – volunteering provides physical and social activity and a sense of purpose at a time when social roles are changing. RSVP, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program was created especially for people aged 55 years and older who have a lifetime of experience to share with one’s local community. The goal: to utilize the interests, skills and abilities of this growing population and match them with satisfying and rewarding volunteer service in the community. Volunteer opportunities exist in our neighborhoods, churches, clubs and a myriad of non-profit agencies in the community. If you are not already a member of RSVP, I invite you to join (no membership fees or dues); all that’s needed is the desire to share of yourself with those who have needs. Call us at 743-7787 and talk to Karon or Pam. What a great way to begin a new year!
PACE: A Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly
PACE programs coordinate and provide all needed preventive, primary, acute and long-term care services so older individuals can continue living in the community. PACE is an innovative model that enables individuals who are 55 years old or older and certified by their state to need nursing home care to live as independently as possible. Through PACE, today’s fragmented health care financing and delivery system comes together to serve the unique needs of each individual in a way that makes sense to the frail elderly, their informal caregivers, health care providers and policy makers.
PACE Programs Offer High Quality Care and are Proven Cost Effective
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PACE utilizes interdisciplinary teams - including physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, therapists, van drivers and aides - to exchange information and solve problems as the conditions and needs of each individual who decides to participate in PACE change - all with the objective of enabling participants to live longer in the community.
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PACE provides participants regular access to doctors and other primary care professions who know them and who specialize in caring for older people.
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PACE participants have improved health status and quality of life, lower mortality rates, increased choice in how time is spent, and greater confidence in dealing with life’s problems.
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PACE financing model combines payments from Medicare and Medicaid or private pay sources in one flat-rate payment to provide the entire range of health care and services, including paying for hospital care, in response to individual needs.
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PACE utilizes transportation systems to enable participants to live as independently as possible in the community while having access to the supportive services, medical specialists, therapies and other medical care they need.
You are cordially invited to attend the GRAND OPENING of Lubbock’s PACE facility called, La Paloma, January 12, 2010, 4010 22nd Street. There will be a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 12:30 pm.
If you would like to know more about the PACE program or are interested in volunteer opportunities, please contact
RSVP at 743-7787.
Volunteer Opportunities:
American Cancer Society (ACS) is seeking volunteers who will serve in their Road to Recovery Program. Road to Recovery is a service program that provides cancer patients with transportation to and from scheduled treatment appointments. Volunteer drivers donate their time and personal vehicles to take patients to treatments and back home. ACS will work around your schedule. Many patients need daily or weekly treatments, often over a span of months, yet have no transportation or are too sick to drive themselves. Road to Recovery determinedly focuses to resolve this problem by providing available drivers to take patients to and from treatment. Please contact the RSVP office, 743-7787, and we will provide you with the contact information at our local American Cancer Society office. Remember: Today is a good day to volunteer!
To volunteer, or for more information about
these or other volunteer positions, please call the RSVP office at
743-7787.
HOW do I join RSVP?
Becoming a member of RSVP is simple as long as you are at least 55 and
have some time to volunteer. Just call the office at 743-77873 and chat
with Karon McDowell about your interests. If you are not certain
what you would like to do, we can mention several current volunteer
opportunities and send you a list of the sort of jobs which RSVP members
are presently doing to whet your appetite. If you have a special skill
or talent that you would like to utilize, we will search to find just
the right job for you. Just mail in the
enrollment form
(requires Adobe Reader) and we will call you!
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