providing assistance to seniors, and their caregivers…

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Office Volunteer Help Needed

Faith In Action of Bloomington-Normal
Care Receiver Service Guidelines
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Deadlines

• All transportation requests should be made at least 2-3 business days before appointment time.

• Home Repair requests will be honored based on volunteer availability

Inclement Weather Policy Faith In Action of Bloomington-Normal will not provide transportation and other services in inclement weather. The Program Director will make the decision to cancel services in the event of dangerous weather conditions. We will follow the school closing schedule. Listen to WJBC 1230AM for details.  We will do our best to inform our care receivers and volunteers in a timely fashion of the decision to cancel services.

Eligibility Age 55 or older Care receiver must have a Bloomington or Normal address No income guidelines No charge; services are free but tax deductible donations are gratefully accepted A home visit will be made to obtain needed information to facilitate service.

Services Provided

Transportation

• Physician and other medical related appointments and grocery shopping will be given priority. Other appointments such as banking, beauty shop, etc. will be taken if volunteers are available.

• Once the assignment has been given to a volunteer, the assigned volunteer will contact you to set up the appointment. The volunteer will call again the day of the appointment to confirm the time. This will alleviate any confusion and any unnecessary trips if the appointment is not needed.

• If the appointment is less than 30 minutes, volunteers will stay with you. If the appointment will take longer, you may make arrangements with the volunteer to pick you up at an arranged time and place. 

• Volunteers are not allowed to give you their home phone number. If you need to cancel an appointment, please call the office between 9am and 4pm Monday through Thursday and we will cancel it with the volunteer.

• Please stick to the service that was initially arranged. Volunteers are not expected to make multiple stops unless agreed upon ahead of time.

Shopping

• If a volunteer is shopping without you, the Care Receiver must provide cash or check with a written list prior to the volunteer’s trip. Volunteers will give the Care Receiver a receipt for cash received, store receipt, and change from store transaction.

• Volunteers should be asked to shop only with merchants located within the service area unless a special request has been agreed to by both parties ahead of time.

• Volunteers will not be expected to use their own money to assist in paying for your items, so please plan carefully beforehand.

• Volunteers will be happy to assist with unpacking groceries, if asked.

Telephone Reassurance Calls

Volunteers call on a regular basis to establish an ongoing, friendly relationship. Volunteers contact the care receiver to determine a mutually agreed upon schedule of calls.

Friendly Home Visitors

A volunteer or volunteer team of two is matched with a care receiver who would like to make new friends. The volunteers will come and visit on a regular basis. Both parties will determine the agreed upon schedule of visits.

Light Home Repair and Maintenance

 Volunteers are available to help with small household repairs, yard work, and other small household jobs NOT requiring a permit. Care Receivers are responsible for the cost of supplies. Volunteers’ services are free of charge to those who qualify for these services. The Program Director determines the eligibility of Care Receivers and some services may be available seasonally.

Use of Multiple Services

Use of transportation and shopping in the same week may be limited in order to assure service to other Care Receivers. You may be receiving phone calls and/or friendly home visits weekly without affecting your access to use transportation services.

Donations: Services are provided by volunteers; no payment is expected or requested. If the Care Receiver expresses a desire to pay in appreciation for the service, the Volunteer should ask the Care Receiver to send the donation to:

All donations will go directly to the Faith In Action program.

Rights to Refuse Service to a Care Receiver
The Program Director may refuse to serve a Care Receiver when it is deemed that the services would not be appropriate for FIA-BN or if other means are available by using existing community resources.