Volunteer with Older Adults (Sacramento County)

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Role/Purpose:

The Peer Counselor offers companionship, support, referrals, community connections and advocacy to adults 55 years and older, to whom may feel lonely, are homebound, and underserved. If you should have an interest in giving back to our community, you can make a difference by spending your time with someone in need of a friend. As a Peer Counselor, you offer clients with the following
Companionship- client activities might include board games, going out for coffee/meal, looking at photographs and listening to the client share personal stories.
Support- assisting the client by taking them to pick up groceries from the market or stopping by the pharmacy for medications these little things can greatly impact the clients lives.
Referrals- The client may need help finding and accessing community resources such as a cleaning service, or a meal preparation service you can assist them with getting in contact with these services or contact the Program Coordinator for assistance.
Community Connections- We want our clients feel a part of the community we can do that by taking them for a walk in the park or taking them to community events (free events are always available).
Advocacy- Some clients made need someone to help them advocate, an example would be if the client’s toilet may have not have been working for weeks in this case we would help the clients advocate for themselves by contacting a landlord or a plumbing company and getting it fixed immediately. Many older adults are homebound individuals and may not know how to ask for assistance or family members may not be aware of the services provided, they even may not notice the client is in need of services; we are able to get them connected in order to meet there living needs. All these will prevent isolation, loneliness, reduce stress in order for our clients to live longer fulfilling lives.

Individuals with personal lived experience of recovery from a mental health challenge or close family members of such individuals are preferred. Bilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Familiarity with the concepts of wellness, recovery, peer support, cultural and linguistic competence, public mental health systems, and the Mental Health Services Act is highly desired for this position.

Background Check: Prior to beginning volunteer work, a LiveScan background check and clearance is required.

Reports to: Older Adult Program Coordinator
Office Hours: Monday thru Friday, 9am - 5pm
Telephone: (916) 855-5444

Training:

Volunteers are required to receive training prior to volunteering.

• Training includes: an overview of The Older Adult Program, HIPAA (client privacy), Adult Protective Services, and Suicide Prevention.

Key Responsibilities / Expectations:

• Visit with assigned client at least once per week for 1-2 hours per visit minimum of six months (typically in client’s home).
• Mandated reporting
• Communicate any issues that may arise immediately to the Program Coordinator.
• Researching community resources to assist client’s needs
• Provide advance notice if for any reason you are unable to continue volunteering.
• A few days before the end of each month (before minimum 2 days before the last day of the month), contact the Program Coordinator with Monthly Hours.
• Provide the following in order to receive a Stipend:
  • Number of visits with client for that month
  • include hours/time spent with client (travel time to/from client’s home)