Verde Valley Caregivers Coalition
Verde Valley Caregivers
Caregivers Connection
April 16, 2012
In This Issue
National Volunteer Week April 15 - 21
Volunteer Luncheon - Thursday, April 19th
Weekly Orientations
Care Transition Pilot
Pay Forward Merchant Progress
Our Staff

 

KENT ELLSWORTH

Executive Director

[email protected]

 

ROGER WYER

Volunteer Coordinator

[email protected] 

 

JUDITH RYAN

Executive Assistant

[email protected]

Contact Us

Contact us 

299 Van Deren

Suite 2

Sedona, AZ 86336

 

 Phone: 928.204.1238

Fax: 928.203.9503

Visit Our New Website!
 
 
Check out

luncheonMagical

Volunteer

Appreciation

Luncheon

  Magic

Join us

Thursday,

April 19, 2012

Noon - 1:30 PM

(doors open @ 11:30 AM)

 

 

V.O.C.A.

Redstone Big Room

690 Bell Rock Blvd.

Village of Oak Creek

 

Please RSVP by phone 928.204.1238 or email.

The Sedona Silver Linings Thrift Shop

 Thrift Shop 

345 Jordan Road

at Apple Avenue

Sedona, AZ 86336

Phone: 928.282.6851

 

Hours:

Monday - Saturday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

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learningVolunteer U.

Events

Unless otherwise noted, all learning events take place in the conference room at our office in uptown Sedona,

299 Van Deren, Suite 2. 

 

Space is limited -

Please RSVP by phone, 928.204.1238, or email.

 

Click on the event title for more information... 

   

Volunteer Orientation

Every Thursday

10:00 AM - Noon

Please RSVP!

 

 

Refer to the website for updates and additions.

timeformReminder!

We appreciate your keeping track of your time and mileage and submitting the information monthly to the office.

 

Click here to download or print a copy of the monthly report form.

 

If you've got any questions, please contact us. Thanks!

 

Greetings!

  

It seems to be getting a little more difficult to fill service requests, so we appreciate more than ever those of you who say "Yes" - as well as those who call in and update your availability.


Most of our volunteers receive this e-newsletter and about half open it - including you! The industry average open rate is about 20%, so it's easy to see that you're not just serving, you're engaged. This feeling of a strong community of volunteers aligned with the Verde Valley Caregivers mission really drives us to continue improving the ways we serve. Thank you for being part of the team!

National Volunteer Week April 15 - 21

National Volunteer WeekFor over twenty years, the Points of Light Foundation has spearheaded a national celebration of people doing extraordinary things through service. National Volunteer Week honors individuals who dedicate themselves to taking action and solving problems in their communities.


For us, it's a time to connect with each other as volunteers and as a community - and to remember that we're part of something much greater than our daily service - and that's pretty great! Some among us, who shall not be named, believe that volunteers are not just our hope for a better tomorrow - volunteers are our only hope.

Volunteer Luncheon - April 19th 

We'll be celebrating ourselves and the work we do on Thursday, April Magic19th, at the Oak Creek Country Club, from Noon until 1:30 PM. Doors open at 11:30 AM, so plan to come a little early to chat.


The theme for the day is "Magical Volunteers." Expect magical food and magical entertainment. The program is mostly interactive so we can take a few moments to share who we are and what makes the service we provide magical.

 
Mostly, volunteers are a fun bunch, so we want to provide an opportunity to be ourselves!


See the sidebar for more info and please do RSVP immediately if you've not already done so.

Weekly Orientations

OrientationThe pace is quickening. We've been taking in about six to eight new neighbors per week - until recently. It seems we're up to about two per day now, and so far this year we have enrolled 142 new neighbors and we have signed up 26 new volunteers.

 

One strategy to increase the number of volunteers is to make it quick and easy to volunteer. Rather than steer potential volunteers toward our usual monthly orientation, we're now providing orientations every Thursday from 10:00 AM - Noon, in our conference room. Our goal is to have new volunteers sign up at orientation and to match them with a service request on the spot. We want them to schedule upcoming learning events as well.

 

Another strategy is to ask you to recruit with us. When you talk with people about the service you do, and they show an interest, please send them our way! Any old Thursday will do!

Care Transition Pilot 

Nurse and neighborIn March, we received a $5,000 grant from the Arizona Republic/12 News Season for Sharing to help fund a Care Transitions Pilot program. We will soon launch the pilot in partnership with Verde Valley Medical Center. The program will provide more intensive services to at-risk Medicare patients during the first 30 days after their release from the hospital.
 

The Care Transitions model involves a nurse-led team of volunteers who provide specific transition services plus the assistance we already provide such as transportation to follow-up medical appointments, grocery shopping, in-home visitation, business help and the Guardian Angel personal security alert system. A nurse will visit with each patient just prior to discharge and meet again in their home on the day of discharge to provide transition coaching and complete a review of their needs.
 

The Care Transitions nurse and volunteers will provide assistance with: 

  • Scheduling follow-up medical visits and transportation to medical appointments
  • Grocery shopping and other important needs
  • Medication list reconciliation and picking up medication
  • Education on diagnosis and coaching to maximize recovery
  • Home safety check and remediation
  • Regular telephone reassurance
  • Personal security alert system
  • Referrals and assistance with obtaining community-based services.
     
  • All of these services will be provided without charge. The first 30 days after discharge can be difficult and we believe our Care Transitions Program will make a big difference for the people we serve. We see this new program as a way to better fulfill our mission for older adults at a time in their lives when they most need our help.

     

    If you are interested in volunteering with the Care Transitions Team, please call Kent at Verde Valley Caregivers.

     

    Pay Forward Merchant ProgressPay Forward Merchant Program

    About twenty local merchants are now signed up to support our Pay Forward Merchant Program. A portion of the fees they pay for processing credit card payments are now coming to Verde Valley Caregivers to support the work we do. So far, it's been a joy to see how responsive businesses are to our request to help out.
     

    Here's how you can help: if you have a connection to a local business and think they would be interested in supporting our work, please contact us and help make the connection. Pay Forward is really easy for businesses and benefits everyone involved.

    We hope to see you at the Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on Thursday, April 19th. We look forward to sharing the magic and enjoying your company as we celebrate the value service brings to each of us and all of our neighbors!

     

    Sincerely,

     

    Kent Ellsworth, Executive Director
    Roger Wyer, Volunteer Coordinator

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