Respite Care for Seniors (with stipend)

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SENIOR FRIENDSHIP CENTERS RELIEF VOLUNTEER

Provide in-home respite services to a homebound senior in your community, giving the caregivers an opportunity for a much-needed break, helping the family to continue caring for their loved one at home without becoming ill themselves. A stipend is provided for RELIEF volunteer service.

DESCRIPTION: Respite for Elders Living in Everyday Families (RELIEF) volunteers provide in-home respite care and companionship to a frail homebound senior. This support helps caregivers maintain their fullest potential to continue to care for their loved one and allows the senior to remain in their home, keeping the family together. Volunteers may spend up to four hours per visit, 3 times per week, with the same family. Activities may include:

• Providing companionship, conversation, playing games, or solving puzzles.
• Assist with reading, writing letters, or journaling.
• Encouraging exercise and recreation, going to the park, or taking walks.
• Preparing or serving a light meal or snack pre-approved by the caregiver.

TRAINING: 20 hours of orientation training will be provided, and volunteers will attend 3 hours of in-service training per quarter. The training covers policies and procedures and also address a broad range of topics regarding elder and respite-care issues including:

• Physiological, psychological and social aspects of aging.
• Health and personal-care assistance.
• Elder abuse, neglect and exploitation.
• Communication techniques.
• Problem behaviors and problem solving.

SCHEDULE: 3 visits per week are required, spending up to 4 hours per visit. Visits occur primarily during evenings and weekends, times that are not usually covered by other respite programs. This position requires that you are year-round Florida resident, and we ask that you are able to commit to a minimum of one year of service. A longer term-commitment is strongly preferred.

SUPERVISOR: Lee County Friendship at Home Coordinator

LOCATION: RELIEF clients’ homes may be located anywhere in Lee County. Once paired up with a client, volunteers visit the same home.

STIPEND & OTHER BENEFITS:

• A stipend of $9.00 per hour is provided, with travel time is included.
• A gas reimbursement of $0.25 per mile is provided.
• Meaningful and rewarding experience, developing long-term relationships with others.
• Quality training provided and ongoing support from staff.
• Volunteer Appreciation events and activities provided by Senior Friendship Centers.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Have a kind and patient personality with ability to engage with seniors.
• Have an interest in elder care and issues facing aging adults.
• Be reliable and maintain good communication with the senior client and Senior Friendship Centers staff.
• Able to accurately volunteer track time and meet deadlines for completing timesheets.
• Be age 18 or older.
• Successfully pass a Level 2 Criminal History Background Screening.
• Commit to a minimum of 4 hours per week.
• Commit to a minimum of 3 days per week.
• Be friendly, flexible, able to handle challenges, and able to work with limited supervision.
• Must possess cultural awareness and sensitivity for all individuals and groups.
• Experience with in-home care, eldercare, or social work is preferred but not required.