September 2005
On the South Plains,
there are over 55,000 senior citizens, many of whom find it difficult
and too costly to acquire the most basic needs of food, shelter, medical
care, and transportation. South Plains Association of Government’s (SPAG)
AREA AGENCY ON AGING, 58th and Avenue P, coordinates a network of
service providers in providing a comprehensive continuum of services and
opportunities so that older Americans can live dignified, independent,
and productive lives. The main eligibility requirement for the agency’s
services is that the client is at least 60 years old, but the focus is
to assist seniors in need. Most clients depend on Social Security for
their income, but specific stringent income levels are not a determining
qualification. There are no charges for services; however, contributions
are encouraged to help with program costs.
Some of the
programs the AAA offers are a Nutrition Program at established
congregate sites on weekdays; Transportation to and from senior centers,
grocery stores, doctor’s offices and other facilities and agencies;
Information, Referral and Assistance on various services available such
as social security, food stamps, employment and educational
opportunities, health care, legal assistance, transportation, and
housing; Adult Day Care services in a congregate non-residential
setting; Homemaker services with household maintenance and shopping for
homebound elderly; Benefits Counseling on such matters as wills,
property, consumer fraud and legal rights; Care Coordination for
comprehensive services on a case-by-case basis; and Nursing Home
Ombudsmen to investigate complaints against nursing facilities in the
South Plains area.
The Area Agency on
Aging needs volunteers in several of these areas. The Ombudsman
Program would be a gratifying job for those interested in the inner
workings of long-term care centers. This program helps residents, family
and staff to achieve the best possible quality of life in these
facilities. The Ombudsman volunteer receives extensive training and
would be responsible for visiting nursing homes and getting to know the
residents and their families. If volunteers receive any complaints, they
would do their best to help resolve it. However, if there are any
questions or big problems, the staff Ombudsman at the AAA is always
available.
Another program
that would provide you with lots of valuable information is the
Benefits Counseling position. Volunteers help senior citizens with
information on Medicare, Medicaid, VA, SSI, long-term care insurance,
and advance directives and wills. You would also be trained to help with
paperwork for these and other programs if the client needs help
completing the forms.
By joining the
South Plains Citizens Corps Council, a volunteer will have a choice
of helping with several programs such as the Neighborhood Watch Program
(NWP), the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Volunteers in
Police Service (VIPS), Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), or the Fire Corps.
Many interesting
jobs in which you can learn a lot while helping others at a critical
time in their lives!
OTHER VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITIES:
AMERICAN CANCER
SOCIETY’S Road to Recovery Program provides cancer patients with
transportation to and from scheduled treatment appointments. Volunteer
drivers are greatly needed to donate both their time and the use of
their personal vehicles to assist patients. You would not be asked to
assist wheelchair patients. Lack of transportation has become a major
problem for many cancer patients. Many patients need daily or weekly
treatments, often over a period of months, and they simply have no
transportation. Although family and friends may be asked to help,
sometimes there are just too many appointments for them to handle.
Please consider helping a cancer patient to be a cancer survivor on the
Road to Recovery.
SOUTH PLAINS
FOOD BANK, 4610 Locust, would really appreciate receptionists to sit
at the front desk and greet people, take food vouchers, and answer the
phone. Volunteers could either work as floaters whenever the need
arises, or on a weekly basis Tuesday mornings from 9:00 a.m. until 12:30
p.m. This would be a simple job, but an important one in the Food Bank’s
operation. When you work a shift, you are also invited to lunch with the
staff there. How about spending a little of your time helping an
organization that does so very much for people on the South Plains?
To
volunteer, or for more information about these or other volunteer positions, please call the RSVP office at 742-2423.
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 742-2423 and chat with Ronda Casey or Bonne Phillips 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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