Background on Key Service Challenges Affecting Older Adults in Larimer County
In May 2023 The Partnership for Age-Friendly Communities (PAFC) gathered a group of local non-profit agencies who serve Larimer County elders as they strive to remain independent. Staff shared a number of challenges faced by their clients which are inadequately supported in our community.
Of those challenges we selected six to share with local stakeholders by way of facilitated conversations. We want to explore how the broader community might partner with non-profit services in helping us all successfully age..
The following pages provide a brief introduction to each of these six chosen issues.
They are by no means the only issues, but they might serve as a starting point for greater community engagement in tackling the challenges of growing old.
Service Challenges
I. Information and Referral
II. Accessible Housing
III. Care Management
IV. Mobility
V. Patient Education
VI. Volunteerism
Information and Referral in Larimer County
Any of us who have the opportunity to personally experience late life will likely need some level of assistance managing its challenges. While adult children may be a major resource if they are available, the ultimate need for outside services to help maintain a healthy and independent lifestyle is almost inevitable. A reliable system of information and referral (INR) are essential to identifying and securing those services. While central hub systems with comprehensive lists of available services for older adults is basic to INR, resources to help identify and connect with the range and combination of reliable services appropriate to an individual’s circumstances provide added benefit.
BACKGROUND
In the early 80’s, the primary central source of information and referral for older adults resided with the Larimer County Office on Aging (LCOA) and staffed by a half time staff position answering phone inquiries and updating and publishing an annual Answers on Aging book listing services and phone numbers by category of service. These were distributed to provider offices throughout the County.
The County Dept of Human services later initiated a program named First Call, a phone-based information and referral service designed to respond to inquiries from County residents - not limited to older adults. LCOA provided training to First Call responders and established a system whereby all calls regarding aging issues were initially handled by First Call. Caller needs that went beyond the purview of First Call responders were referred to LCOA.
Sometime in the mid-eighties a group of private and nonprofit providers from a variety of disciplines - legal, mental health, medical, care management, etc. - formed a network called the Elder Care Network of Northern Colorado. Their purpose was to actively network with each other and to collectively educate the community of family caregivers about available services. They maintained an informative website and conducted a variety of public educational events addressing a multitude of caregiver issues. It was a very active group for over 30 years supported primarily by membership dues. The organization ultimately disbanded in 2020 at the start of the Covid era when the level of membership could no longer sustain their mission.
In 2003 United Way established the 211 system which is still operating today. It superseded First Call and in its early form included a local call center with connections to local services but ultimately was incorporated into a statewide call center located in Denver. It continues to provide referrals by county and is intended as a tool for connecting individuals with a wide range of community resources, including housing assistance, food programs, healthcare services, and more. It has become part of the state's efforts to support and connect residents with the services they need. Information can be accessed online or by phone.
In 2005, the CO Department of Human Services obtained a federal grant to design and start the implementation process of Aging and Disability Resource Centers, creating Aging and Disability Resources for Colorado (ADRC). The local ADRC is managed by LCOA and is a source of information on the full range of long-term services and support options including Information and referrals to public and non-profit programs, services, and resources. They are accessed by phone or email.
In the early 2000’s LCOA subscribed to a national online database service called Network of Care, a service provided locally by Area Agencies on Aging throughout the country. It categorizes local resources and provides up-to-date online information. However, after several years of utilization, the LCOA no longer had the resources needed to fund the subscription and keep the information current and so canceled their subscription.
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
211 sponsored by United Way is still available via a call center located in Denver. They work with local agencies to keep information current, but referrals are limited to public and non-profit services. They are not limited to providing information on older adult services.
Larimer County ADRC (Aging and Disability Resources for Colorado) is a trusted source of information on the full range of long-term services and support options. Information and referrals to programs, services, and resources as well as navigating options for older adults and adults living with a disability is available. Services are provided at no cost. The ADRC can also provide Application Assistance, Options Counseling, Transition Services, Caregiver supports, an In home service voucher and chore voucher program.
As a government service they are limited in recommending private resources but have extensive knowledge of local public and nonprofit services and assistance.
LCOA annually updates the Answers on Aging guide, a comprehensive listing of local services targeting older adults. It is freely available in hardcopy at various public drop-off points and in downloadable pdf format. It is extremely comprehensive with over 800 listings. Some categories do have references to private services that specialize in serving older adults, although most are to public and non-profit agencies.
Senior Access Points is a partnership between the Larimer County Office of Colorado State University Extension, CSU Department of Human Development and Family Studies, the Partnership for Age-Friendly Communities, and the Larimer County Office on Aging.
They maintain an online database of local resources. However, they too focus primarily on public and non-profit providers.
The UCHealth Aspen Club fields a variety of calls requesting information and recommendations.
Most non-profit providers are excellent resources for guiding their clients to needed services. They routinely network with other nonprofits. They know their clients well and can make informed suggestions relevant to individual needs and circumstances. Whether or not they are comfortable making referrals to specific private providers, they are in a position to educate clients on the kind of provider services they might need and how to go about selecting one. Their services are of course limited to their own client populations.
WHAT IS MISSING?
While there are several good ‘hub’ centers listing services for older adults and their caregivers, only ADRC seems to have the resources and mission to personalize their recommendations to meet the specific needs of local callers. And even they are limited in their ability to make suggestions beyond the public and nonprofit arena. There is some question as to how widely their services are known to the general public.
What is blatantly missing is some sort of mechanism for informing and guiding more isolated folks who reside outside the usual circles of reliable information.
In spite of several good online listings, personalized advice and support for identifying and actually seeking appropriate services is generally limited to information and encouragement provided by informal social connections and immediate caregivers who themselves may have limited knowledge of the range of available resources.
NON-PROFITS HAVE EXPRESSED A VARIETY OF CONCERNS:
● Lack of community familiarity with issues they address. “Unless you know someone with the problem you do not know the problem” or that there even is a problem.
● Lack of community familiarity with the kind and cost of services rendered by an agency.
● Needs can overwhelm agency resources at times delaying service delivery.
● Difficulty convincing isolated “independent” clients to connect with outside assistance
● Rural and Hispanic populations are especially in need of information regarding available resources which may be limited due to distance and language barriers.
●
Accessible Housing in Larimer County
Older adults would benefit in having a variety of housing options sufficient to meet their individual needs and from community support to make these options viable. Creating accessible, affordable housing can significantly improve the quality of life for older adults, allowing them to age in place comfortably and maintain their independence for as long as possible.
BACKGROUND
Ideal housing access for older adults should encompass several characteristics to ensure their safety, comfort, and convenience as they age. Here are some key features:
● Accessibility: Housing should be easily accessible without obstacles or barriers.
● Safety: Implementing safety features can prevent accidents and provide peace of mind for older adults.
● Adaptability: Homes that can be easily modified to accommodate changing needs over time.
● Location: Ideally, housing should be located near essential amenities. Proximity to social and community centers can also combat isolation and encourage social interaction.
● Affordability: Affordable housing options suited for older adults are essential. There’s never enough affordable housing, and a lot of people are trapped in the middle financially. Cost of renting (including inability to limit rent increases).
● Socialization and Community Engagement: Housing communities that encourage social
● interaction, communal spaces, and organized activities foster a sense of belonging and
● combat isolation or loneliness.
● Technology Integration: Incorporating technology for safety and convenience, can significantly enhance the quality of life for older adults.
● Healthcare Support: Easy access to healthcare services, in-home care options, and proximity to medical facilities or clinics can be crucial.
● Financial and Legal Assistance: Access to financial and legal resources or services catering to older adults’ needs can be beneficial.
● Environmental Considerations: Consideration for a quiet environment, access to nature or green spaces, and proper ventilation and air quality can positively impact older adults’ mental and physical well-being.
WHERE ARE WE NOW
There are many examples of government, non-profits, CSU, builders collaborating to offer programs to assist older adults with staying in their own home or gaining access to housing that will better suit their needs.
● City governments offer incentives to private landlords to rent to seniors and/or low-income people.
● Nonprofits providing case management to renters (alleviating concerns of private landlords).
● Educational programs directed to potential home owners
● VOA’s Handy-Person Program helps people to think through their home situation, so they can plan ahead for aging in place.
● Fort Collins and Loveland have attempted to increase affordable housing through building code adjustments to allow more middle housing.
● Institute for the Built Environment (CSU) has a program called Lifelong Housing.
● Neighbor-to-Neighbor hosts a Home Share program matching older homeowners with those seeking housing.
● Larimer County (for the last 4 years) has offered financial support for home or mobile homeowners to make emergency repairs. Funding is via a grant or a low interest loan.
● Neighbor to Neighbor administers an Eviction prevention program for unincorporated Larimer County residents. Started during the pandemic and continuing in 2024.
● Community efforts to work with the County Land Use Code to include affordable housing for unincorporated areas of the County.
● CSU Extension Rural Initiative - programming around healthy aging (which includes housing).
● Housing Catalyst provides affordable rentals, assistance with finding housing, housing vouchers, etc. for those who are income qualified.
● LifeLong homes Builders: builders working on communities that support aging in place
○ The LifeLong Homes initiative continues forward with builders/developers, etc.
○ Sonders Fort Collins development
○ The Polestar community will have lifelong homes.
WHAT IS MISSING?
● Enough housing stock for both rental and owner-occupied housing
● Enough available land for builders to add to housing stock
● Assistance to buyers and renters with credit issues
● Clarity regarding U+2 iissues
● Land use codes supporting affordable housing
● Sufficient stock of low income housing
● Access to existing low income housing - shorter waiting lists and less complicated application processes
● Public awareness that we’re an aging community with increased need for lifelong housing
● Review of building codes and single-family home/car oriented communities
● Design flexibility. Developers have “formulas”, so it is hard to change to new housing plans
● Building designers with sufficient knowledge of accessibility issues
● Communities open to allowing more middle housing in their neighborhoods
● Adaptation to changing demographics. Changes over time have resulted in far fewer nuclear families, so emphasis on single family housing is not efficient.
● Incentives to build with life-long home features (e.g. lower water tap fees, faster approval process)
● Consumers’ awareness of and demand for age-friendly features
NON-PROFITS HAVE EXPRESSED A VARIETY OF CONCERNS:
● Need more vocal support for issues from businesses, faith-based groups at city council and with local representatives
● State tax credits needed to incentivize developers
● Need involvement from businesses tangential to construction (e.g. small local business people who live here as do their employees)
● Need more physical and occupational therapists who are interested in safe housing
● Architects, Builders, Developers, realtors, government, transportation people need to be part of the solution
● .Need for understanding and promoting the needs of older adults in housing
● Incentives to landlords to keep rent down. Need to support NOAH (naturally occurring affordable housing - small landlords)
● Need to prioritize solutions to problems where peoples’ basic needs are met; things that have a life-long generational impact
Suggestion - Make it happen via non-profits reaching out to groups for open discussions (what are the issues the community is concerned about?). Have community conversations around housing opportunities.
Care Management in Larimer County
Geriatric care management is a holistic, client-centered approach to caring for older adults or others facing ongoing health challenges. By working with both the "families" and the client, the care manager aims to address some of the challenges. Tools often used include consultation, assessment, care coordination with other agencies and medical professionals, and advocacy in many different types of settings (from homes to skilled nursing care facilities).
BACKGROUND
In the late 1980’s and 1990’s the community abounded in independent private professional care managers. Providing those services was time-intensive and therefore expensive to deliver. Over time the number of independent providers declined to virtually zero.
In the early 2000’s a coalition of independent care managers was formed in an effort to share ideas and resources and to seek ways to better coordinate services. It was also the intent to explore possibilities for providing low-cost services to caregiver families who otherwise could not afford private care management services. This effort gradually evolved into a periodic meeting for sharing information but no procedure for providing low-cost care management was ever developed. By the early 2000’s the group had quietly disbanded.
The Murphy Center was founded in 2009 as a hub of services for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. It is a collaboration among 20 independent agencies and countless community partners who offer an array of services.
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
● UCHealth Community Paramedic Division provides frequent ER users with the support they need through an in-home monitoring and referral program. The focus is on those age 50 and older who have physical and behavioral health needs that are not well managed. They seek to help individuals by increasing social connectedness and access to information/resources and skill building and reducing their use of 911 for needs best addressed by a primary care provider. Most recipients are either homeless or experiencing disabling mental health issues.
● The Murphy Center continues to facilitate collaboration among independent agencies that offer an array of services for individuals and families who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless.
● Neighbor-to-Neighbor provides case management to clients they place in housing.
● The Northern Colorado Health Alliance provides care management services to Health First Colorado Medicaid members . The service is free to Medicaid recipients.
● Options for Long Term Care is a Larimer County program that provides assessment and ongoing case management to older and disabled low-income individuals who are in need of long-term care services in their own homes or alternative care facilities, and provides assessment for people in need of placement in a skilled facility. OLTC
● Very few private care management agencies are currently available. Most private fee-based care management is provided by in-home health care agencies. Allied Care Management and an online care coaching service called Virtual Care Coach are the only two local services with a web presence.
WHAT IS MISSING?
Small private care management services have all but disappeared. A few large businesses still provide services, but the cost is quite high and essentially out of reach for low- and middle-income families who are already challenged by the increasing costs of health care.
Managing care is especially challenging for adult children and others who live at a distance and have no knowledge of the availability and quality of local services. Not to mention the challenges of coordinating care among a variety of providers.
While a number of publicly and donor funded services provide some level of care management to income-qualified individuals, ordinary middle-income families have few if any affordable options for assistance in coordinating care for frail elders.
Mobility in Larimer County
People on average outlive their ability to drive by 10 years. Various attempts have been made in Larimer County over the past several years to address issues of mobility. Some progress has been made. Older adults continue to need access to public transportation and individualized transportation when they are unable to provide transportation on their own.
BACKGROUND:
If you needed transportation in Larimer County and were not able to drive yourself or find someone to provide it to you, would you know what to do? What if you wanted to be more environmentally conscious, and reduce greenhouse gases while still getting around in the county, would you know what to do? These questions are not new to anyone who lives in Larimer County and they have existed for decades! It’s not just the older adults or folks who may have limited abilities in some area who ask these questions, it’s an issue for everyone! Over the past decade concerted efforts have been made to address this issue.
Sometime around 2015, in response to limited transportation options, especially in rural areas of Larimer County, PAFC and the Office on Aging brought together a number of local transportation services to discuss possibilities for expanding services. The group became known as the Senior Transportation Coalition. They met regularly to attempt to identify creative solutions to issues of mobility. Many of their ideas have been implemented and continue to improve service and such dialogue continues. Some of their early efforts included regional travel training (e.g. Organized trips to Denver via Bustang) and various efforts to increase public awareness of existing travel options.
Through surveys, community presentations, and other efforts to identify needs and explore possibilities a program called RideNoCo was established which provides information concerning how to access transportation in the county. With a staff of three, RideNoCo connects with individuals who need specific information and direction on how to navigate public or private transportation entities in Larimer and Weld counties and helps to facilitate a successful outcome. Areas with less successful outcomes continue to be in the rural areas of both counties.
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
Many issues still remain and may have been exacerbated by the recent pandemic. Issues related to the public’s awareness of what transportation is available continue. Concerns related to transportation needs on an immediate basis (e.g., how to get to a medical appointment or to visit someone in the hospital) exist. Cost of specialized transportation is a continuing issue as is wheelchair accessibility, assistance beyond curb to curb service, and off hours availability. RideNoCO will be initiating a new coordinated scheduling system this spring on a trial basis with SAINT, RAFT, 60Plus Ride (Greeley Service).
Existing transportation services include:
● SAINT offers volunteer drivers who provide personalized door-to-door transportation to older adults and people with disabilities.
● RideNoCO is a central information hub helping riders find transportation options throughout northern Colorado.
● Bustang is a fee-based bus service provided by Colorado Department of Transportation offering service from Fort Collins and Loveland to Denver, Colorado Springs, and Grand Junction.
● Heart and soul Paratransit is a private non-emergency medical transportation service.
● Fort Collins Transfort provides public bus service throughout the City. Fares have been suspended since the beginning of the covid epidemic. Free travel training is available to those unfamiliar with public transport. All buses are wheelchair accessible.
● Dial-A-Ride is a door-to-door paratransit service for individuals who, because of a disability, are prevented from using Transfort's fixed route system.
There is also an online discussion guide offering differing viewpoints on the issue of transportation.
WHAT IS MISSING?
Many issues still remain and may have been exacerbated by the recent pandemic.
● Issues related to the public’s awareness of what transportation is available continue.
● Concerns related to transportation needs on an immediate basis (e.g., how to get to a medical appointment or to visit someone in the hospital) exist.
● Cost of specialized transportation is a continuing issue: wheelchair accessibility, assistance beyond curb-to-curb service, off hours availability.
● Dialogue among existing providers.
● Awareness of how other communities or neighborhoods address these issues.
● General campaign to publicize transportation that exists and possible restrictions. (Restrictions may be economic, advance planning related, time sensitive). This could include creating a way to get such information directly to the consumer but also to various entities that serve older adults on a regular basis.
Patient Education
Patient education is a recurring and ongoing issue in Larimer County. Access to appropriate educational resources is an important component to self-care and managing one’s health. Patient education aids in making informed decisions. Patient education is important in determining appropriate treatment options and in selecting appropriate providers and ultimately in health outcomes.
Larimer County has an abundance of health care providers in nearly every discipline or specialty. Determining who to go to is often a daunting task for a patient due to the myriad of different providers.
Background
Larimer County has seen several initiatives attempt to address the issue of patient education. These seem to break into two different models:
● Education focused on and geared toward the patient or their family and support system.
● Education for the professional providers.
Some of those initiatives have included:
● Alzheimer’s Association offers classes on the warning signs of dementia and how to provide care for a person with dementia.
● Dementia Together offers training for families to assist in managing the dementia journey of their loved one. Also offers training for professionals to increase awareness and professionalism when encountering persons with dementia.
● Aspen Club offers classes in various health related topics. Also acts as a resource center for persons seeking general guidance.
● Larimer Office on Aging publishes an annual guidebook of older adult resources in Larimer County.
● Care Managers Outreach Forum was open to professionals in patient care. Educational format with changing topics and discussion around topical local health issues. Attended by Case Managers and others. This program has been discontinued.
● Sharing the Care was originally an attempt to improve relations between hospital care providers and long-term care facility providers. Evolved into a network of caring professionals striving to improve quality of care through education and networking.
● Bridging the Gap was an annual trade show open to all providers in the area at low cost. Open to the public, but mostly attended by professionals to meet and network with other professionals. This program has been discontinued.
● Elder Care Network was a non-profit organization that produced two annual events: Senior Law Day, and Elder Care Resource Day. This program has been discontinued.
● Senior Access Points is an online resource that connects older adults with reliable education and resources in Larimer County.
● Seniors Blue Book is a Resource for older adults on a myriad of topics affecting older adults.
● Professionals for Seniors is a monthly networking event for profit and nonprofit providers.
● Centennial Area Health Education Center participates in coalitions to coordinate care and works to connect healthcare professionals.
● Health Educators
Some organizations employ health educators to provide education to patients. These are largely focused on specific conditions or risks (e.g. stroke, cardiac, cancer).
● Case Managers
○ Associates in Family Medicine and UCHealth had a network of case managers within some of their doctors’ offices who followed patients, helped to coordinate
with local resources and help with related issues beyond what the doctors dealt with. Educated their patients on local resources. This program has been discontinued.
○ Poudre Valley Hospital also had a community case management program, targeting complex medical cases and high utilizers who had been discharged from the hospital. Care coordinators helped educate patients arrange wrap-around services to improve consistency in management of health conditions and avoid readmission. This program has been discontinued.
● Physicians
○ Doctors provide one on one education to their patients regarding their personal health conditions.
○ Hospital and physician clinics utilize electronic medical record-based screening tool to assess patient conditions appropriate for referral (e.g. HealthyU fall prevention education and programs).
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
Covid primarily, and other forces have seen the end of many of the above programs. Aspen Club programming remains. Larimer OOA publishes the Answers on Aging. Physicians provide individual education during appointments. Alzheimer’s Association and Dementia Together have resumed educational events. Many of the community-based resource fairs have not returned.
CURRENT PROBLEM/CHALLENGES/ROADBLOCKS
● Paradoxically, the wide and varied amount of care providers creates an overwhelming level of options and makes it difficult for some patients to find appropriate care.
● Patients are unclear where to find education relevant to them. Is more general education needed? Or more targeted? How do you accomplish that?
● Due to the wide variety of providers, sometimes competitive issues hinder cooperation among providers. This causes a fracturing of any education avenues and messages.
● Encouraging patients to get information in advance rather than in a crisis has been a dream of many but seems to not be realistic. Patient education is almost always crisis or need driven.
● Any approach to Patient Education requires hosting within a stable organization. It requires financial resources and dedicated personnel. Many of the above initiatives have discontinued for a variety of reasons: retirement of their primary champion, organizations ceasing to exist, changing priorities of organization, natural attrition, and covid.
How could partnerships help reach solutions?
A partnership of any entities, private or public, could provide stability and longevity to an initiative by providing financial resources and dedicated personnel. If properly structured, this could eliminate or minimize any competitive roadblocks.
Volunteerism in Larimer County
Volunteerism refers to the practice of individuals dedicating their time, skills, and efforts voluntarily to support and contribute to a cause or organization without expecting monetary compensation. Volunteers play a crucial role in various sectors, including community service. The essence of volunteerism lies in the selfless desire to make a positive impact and create a better society. Volunteers contribute their unique talents, expertise, and time to address social issues, promote positive change, and foster a sense of community.
BACKGROUND OF PROGRAMS:
Four programs provided information about their volunteer programs: Catholic Charities, Pathways Hospice , PAFC and VOA. The differences in their volunteer opportunities is as different as their services. Therefore, their input is broken down by agency.
● Catholic Charities – Bethany Bray, Volunteer Coordinator
They serve people experiencing homelessness. They provide shelter, food, safety, case management and life skill classes. They support two shelters: Greeley and Fort Collins. They have over 600 volunteers which include schools, mission trips, and subs from churches. They utilize volunteers for:
o Serving lunch/dinner Greeley, breakfast/lunch Fort Collins.
o Serving and meal prep
o Laundry
o Art, yoga, financial, birthday parties (behind the scene and face to face work)
● Partnership for Age Friendly Communities (PAFC) – Karrie Grama-Hatfield
PAFC fosters efforts that improve lives of older adults through 4 core priorities:
Health & Wellness, Housing, Culture of Aging and Mobility & Access. Each
priority group oversees its own projects which are generally time-limited and so offer opportunities for volunteers to participate from planning to execution of a wide variety of projects over a fixed period of time.
● Pathways Hospice – Deb Hayman, Volunteer Coordinator
Since 1978, Pathways has served the community. Originally staffed by volunteers to provide comfort in the final days of life for just 17 patients. They currently offer comprehensive hospice care, palliative care and grief and lose support for all. They serve thousands annually, including 1,200 hospice patients, 2,800 palliative care visits and 3,400 community counseling sessions. They currently have 150 volunteers.
● Volunteers of America -Bricee Bisgaard Project Manager (as of 4/6/2024)
AmeriCorps Seniors-RSVP is a national service program that taps into the skills, talents, and experience of persons age 55 and older.They work with each individual to learn about their skills and interests and match them with an opportunity at one of over 40 partner nonprofit agencies in Larimer County.
WHERE ARE WE NOW:
Those groups that provide financial and staffing support for volunteer programs often do well with volunteers.
● Catholic Charities
○ Have specific job descriptions. Step by step. Clarify Objectives, benefits from the role, who they will report to, clarifying their motivation.
○ Having a consistent process – figuring out from initial phone call and walk the volunteers through the process. Being aware of how much they need to know. Keep them interested. Have all the paperwork ready, who will be in charge of the volunteers, training for specific issues.
○ APPRECIATION, appreciation, appreciation (cards for occasions, luncheon)
○ Volunteers visible to each other, group orientation
○ Newsletters, spotlights, question of the week, volunteer shirts, Name tags so all staff can acknowledge the volunteer by name
○ Keep a file of details on volunteers for help areas in other areas
○ Touch base on a regular basis
○ No surveys. Phone access to call immediately if something comes up
○ Tapping into college students/high school – micro internships (letter of recommendations, put on resume) but challenging to rely on sometimes.
○ Strategies to recruit
● Use volunteer ambassadors at events to recruit new volunteers.
● Church, youth group, CSU involvement expo, cost to it.
● Bike to work days and offer food. (awareness also)
● Using a quick and easy QR code on all flyers
● Attend Open streets and Bike to Work Day for visibility through FCMove.
● Connect with VOA. (RSVP)
● Corporate groups (The Group gives, Key Banks has to have volunteers)
● United Way
● DOVIA - membership required
● Court order people – very strict requirements. They pay for the background check.
○ We are a friendly organization! Once people start volunteering with us, they often comment about how everyone welcomed them onto the team, and how they quickly made new friends. People value not only volunteering on projects but finding new friendships through their volunteer work.
○ Volunteers frequently comment on how they appreciate that we have flexibility with our meeting format - many teams meet virtually, and that flexibility has made it possible for some of our volunteers to continue participating. The post-COVID virtual meeting world seems to be here to stay.
○ We have such a wide breadth of projects and problems we tackle, that it's often possible to pair someone with a project they are interested in. We can find an opportunity for just about anyone.
○ Strategies to recruit:
■ Word of mouth
■ Social media
■ Monthly newsletter
■ Partnership with VOA, CSU
■ Attending outside events (CSU, local Chambers, Community Colleges)
● PAFC
● Pathways Hospice
○ 150 volunteer slots Three trainings a year, maximum of 15. People connect in this smaller group.
○ Training is required to maintain their accreditation.
○ Personalities are key. Spend a lot of time working with volunteers and making sure they are part of the process.
○ Final interview for about an hour with each volunteer.
○ Best practice is 2-3 hours/week of volunteer hours.
○ Never ask for a commitment up front.
○ Communicate through email.
○ Coffee chat – offered to all volunteers.
○ Volunteers work directly with the family and the patient.
○ Making the patient comfortable is what it is all about.
○ Art of listening.
○ Staff come into training to tell their stories and to acknowledge each volunteer.
○ Strategies to recruit:
■ Word of mouth
■ Web search – Hospice Pathways first website.
■ Strong partnership with CSU, UNC from social work and music therapy majors.
● Volunteers of America (RSVP)
○ Our goal is to assign local volunteers to help address local needs.
○ We interview prospective volunteers to determine their experience, interests, and goals as volunteers.
○ We maintain a list of volunteer options and work with applicants to explore options that best fit their interests.
○ Once options are chosen RSVP makes the referral on behalf of the volunteer and ensures follow-up by the agency.
○ We act as an advocate if issues arise with the placement and help locate other options if not a good fit.
○ Community partners are chosen for their mission to address community issues.
○ We offer coaching to agencies regarding their work with volunteers.
○ We provide liability and medical coverage related to volunteer work.
○ We offer social events to enable volunteers to gather and share experiences.
○ We can supply volunteers to one-off events, often on short notice.
○ In the next few months we will be taking over the volunteer resource center (nocovolunteers.org) currently administered by United Way.
○ Recruitment strategies
■ Word of mouth
■ Recognize #1 recruitment resource: friends or family who volunteer
■ Plans to reach out to affordable housing residents
■ Emphasize specific asks - e.g.walking buddy, yard work
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES
Providers who attended the May 1, 2023 meeting stated they struggled with finding new volunteers, keeping volunteers engaged, figuring out how to maintain them and having referrals to give to potential volunteers who either didn’t fit the needs of the program or for whom the program did not meet their expectations or needs.
Even those programs with active volunteer programs have their challenges.
● Catholic Charities
○ Looking for grants/support to help with volunteer lunches, appreciation items.
○ Overall resource information for volunteer opportunities (Volunteers that want to volunteer but don't fit the criteria or the volunteer position- “ I do not know what I want to do.”)
○ A Volunteer may be needed for a specific job they might enjoy but it is hard on staff if they are not always available.
● PAFC
o Branding challenge. Many people don’t know who we are. Organization name is hard to remember.
o Volunteers are retired and need very flexible schedules but that could be unavailable for weeks/months which can make it challenging to keep the momentum.
o Volunteers can have health issues that stop them from volunteering
o Partner Organizations have had major turnover. Hard to build relationships.
o Volunteers are much more judicial with their time, especially in a post-COVID world.
▪ Pro is that the volunteers we ARE getting are often very committed to the projects.
▪ Con is that it is challenging to communicate project goals to entice them to volunteer.
o Challenging to show appreciation due to funding and interest in volunteers to attend.
● Pathways Hospice
o Volunteers require a lot of attention.
o Juggling everyday issues that come up for the volunteer.
o Flu shots were required and lost 40 volunteers.
o Barrier is to get through training
o If someone wants to volunteer but has lost someone, they must wait one year before applying.
o Lots of training. General to nitty gritty. 2 full days of training. 8 hours of community education/year
● VOA - RSVP
o Decline in volunteer engagement since 2020
▪ Covid confinement
▪ Those returning to work and community have re-prioritized their time
o Staff Turnover
o Unrealistic expectations by volunteers and non-profits
o Extensive background process consumes resources
EXPRESSED CONCERNS
● All staff are interacting with volunteers but time is limited.
● Need staff. Short staff is an issue.
● Need someone to be with volunteers during the shift.
● Getting honest feedback from volunteers on issues. Try to make rounds with the volunteers. Touch base on a regular basis.
● Working class that came to help during COVID went back to work.
● COVID issues when there is an outbreak.
● Pre-covid expectations no longer work.
HOW COULD PARTNERSHIPS HELP REACH A SOLUTION
● Sharing information on what is working and what are barriers among programs.
● Cross referrals. Central place for programs to share volunteer opportunities.
● Sharing or providing financial support for supporting volunteer appreciation.
● Maintaining clear and open communication with potential volunteer sources.
● Help public and non-profits to re-think their expectations regarding volunteering
