There just isn’t enough exposure for great nursing home volunteer programs. Most communities have their own newsletters or social media outlets, but where can someone go to learn about programs from a wide variety of communities, all in one place. The answer: “VolunCheerLeader.com”
This blog is created to highlight great programs and I’ve already identified a few of them, but there are many more great programs out there and so I want to hear from you. If you are a director of volunteers for a long-term care community and you think you have a great program, let me know about your program and I’ll feature you right here just as I have others. People in the professions of caring for older adults need to hear about your program. It is my hope that they will be encouraged and inspired to create great programs of their own.
Volunteer programs developed and led by professional volunteer managers are crucial to insuring that the psychological and social needs of the people living in long-term care communities are met. In gerontology, we refer to the bio-pyscho-social model, referring to the physical, mental, and social needs of people.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) is placing an increasing emphasis on meeting not only the biological (physical) needs of people but also the psycho-social needs of people living in long-term communities. Research is showing that the psycho-social needs going unmet leads to increased physical or medical issues that raising the cost of care.
“Super” volunteers that are recruited, screened and properly trained are in the perfect position to meet those two areas of human need. The “super” volunteer plays a critical role in elevating quality of care and most importantly, quality of life of both the people that live and work in long-term care communities. To date one of the common themes that I hear is:
“At first we were hesitant about allowing volunteers to do more but now we realize we couldn’t do what we are doing without them.”
Let’s make this our meeting place. Come to VolunCheerLeader.com to learn, to comment, to present, and most importantly elevate the role of volunteers for long-term communities.
