Volunteering is its own reward. It opens your eyes to the world around you and makes you feel uplifted by making a positive difference in someone else’s life. Helping seniors or disabled individuals makes the reward even sweeter.
The United Way Area Agency on Aging of Jefferson County offers a variety of volunteer opportunities. See the listings below to learn more or call 1-800-AGE-LINE.
Alabama Cares provides services that inform, educate and assist caregivers in tending to the personal needs of their aged or frail loved ones. The program is designed to help families keep their loved ones at home for as long as possible, thereby preventing premature nursing home placement. It was established as part of the National Family Caregiver Support Program and offers five specific types of services: Information Services, Caregiver Access Assistance, Caregiver Education or Counseling, Caregiver Respite and Caregivers Supplemental Services.
Knowledge and Skills:
• Basic Computer Skills
• Phone Etiquette
• Good Organizational Skills
Meals on Wheels’ success depends on a network of faithful volunteers who help prepare and deliver hundreds of thousands of meals each year to homebound seniors in Jefferson County. We need your help -- on the road or in our kitchen -- at United Way of Central Alabama.
Meal Delivery – Volunteers are needed to deliver noontime meals to homebound seniors in various areas of Jefferson County between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Kitchen Help – Volunteers are needed to apportion and package meals in prepartion for pick-up by delivery drivers. Kitchen volunteers work from about 8 to 10 a.m. on selected days Monday through Friday.
An Ombudsman is an advocate for residents in long-term care facilities (nursing homes, board and care homes, specialty care and assisted living facilities). The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program of United Way's Area Agency on Aging (UWAAA) works with all parties, including residents, family members, facility staff and administrators, to protect the health, safety, welfare and rights of long-term care residents in Jefferson County.
Ombudsman volunteers should have a desire to serve residents in long-term care settings for an extended period of time. Each volunteer works to be an advocate and friendly face at a designated facility. The goal is for each Volunteer Ombudsman to establish a rapport over time with all of the residents at the facility. Volunteers conduct friendly routine visits and report back to the certified Ombudsman at UWAAA.
Program Requirements:
The Ombudsman program requires that volunteers commit to the program for several hours per month. Volunteers are required to attend a two-day training and shadow a certified Ombudsman before they are allowed to go to facilities or contact residents on their own.
SenioRx is a program of United Way of Central Alabama’s Area Agency on Aging helping qualified disabled individuals in Jefferson County and residents age 55 and older with the cost of prescription medications.
Volunteers are needed to help SenioRx with program support and outreach efforts.
General Qualities:
• Desire to help seniors and individuals with disabilities.
• Ability to communicate clearly and empathetically, treating others with respect and dignity
• Dependable
Skills Desired:
• Ability to schedule 2 to 4-hour increments for program support
• Basic Office and computer skills
• Ability to follow direction and work independently
• Good phone skills
• Willingness to distribute program materials to Doctor’s offices
• Participation in health fairs, expos, and speaking events as needed to support program and staff
Register TODAY to become a SHIP Volunteer. SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) of United Way's Area Agency on Aging provides free, unbiased information on Medicare to help individuals select the healthcare options that are best for them. You can help, too, by becoming a SHIP volunteer.
• Free training. We'll help you become a Medicare expert.
• Tap into your own skills and passion for helping others.
• Know that you're making a difference in the community.
SMP volunteers empower and assist Medicare beneficiaries, their families and caregivers to prevent, detect and report healthcare fraud, errors and abuse. SMP is a national program for people of all ages with Medicare.
Volunteers will assist Medicare beneficiaries on how to read their Medicare Summary Notices (MSN) and Explanation of Benefits (EOB) by providing education on how to prevent, detect and report healthcare fraud. Volunteers will be working with beneficiaries, their family members and caregivers on the importance of protecting personal health information as well as safeguarding their Medicare numbers. Other functions as an SMP volunteer include outreach, public speaking/education and administrative assistance such as data entry, phone calls, etc.
Responsibilities:
• Assist with administrative tasks such as copying, filing, data entry and placing outbound phone calls.
• Distribute SMP information in the community.
• Assist with staffing informational exhibits at events such as health fairs, etc.
• Provide public education by giving presentations on SMP topics to small or large groups.
• Provide counseling to beneficiaries about their individual situations, which may include review of personal information such as the MSN, billing statements and other financial and health documents.