How We Serve: CAREGIVING SERVICES

ICS Caregiving Services volunteers provide approximately 6,000 services each year to assist elderly and homebound neighbors so that they can live at home, reducing their need for institutional care.

ICS volunteers provide many kinds of Caregiving Services:

Transportation / Shopping. This is the most requested of all our caregiving services. Volunteers use their personal vehicles to provide round-trip transportation to medical appointments, banks, the post office or grocery stores.

Reassurance Calls / Telecare. Caring Telecare volunteers make daily reassurance phone calls to check on the safety and well-being of homebound neighbors. These calls help us determine if the individual is well and functioning. Volunteers begin making calls Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. and usually finish in 1-1/2 hours.

Friendly Visiting / Friendly Phoning. Friendly visits and phoning are provided regularly to others to help overcome isolation.

Caregiver Relief. This service provides short-term relief to a caregiver (usually a family member) so they may leave the home.

Handy Helpers. ICS volunteer Handy Helpers lend neighbors a hand with minor home repairs and projects. This also includes yard clean up or closet organization.

Business Help. Volunteers assist in managing personal business, financial concerns, and personal correspondence of recipients.

Pen Pals. This innovative intergenerational program includes matching homebound seniors with school students. Friendships are celebrated at regular classroom socials.

Guardian Angel Program (GAP). This is a personal safety dialer hooked up to one′s telephone line that allows recipients to call for help with the push of a button on a pendant worn around the neck. This service is offered on a limited basis, dependent on the number of units available.

Referrals are received from partner faith communities, parish nurses, social service agencies, family members, and individuals in need.

Caregiving Services drivers qualify for mileage reimbursement, made possible through the Regional Transportation Authority. This reimbursement currently is set at the federal business rate of 50.5 cents per mile.

Click Here to volunteer for Caregiving Services.

Success stories

"The neighbors I visit are lonely and isolated. They appreciate the opportunity to talk about how they are feeling or what they are going through with someone who just listens."

"Thank you so much for your wonderful service. You allowed our Dad to stay home for such a long time! Thank you for your concern. All of you have been terrific!"

"Living alone, the importance and value of volunteers cannot be ignored. Thank you. Your transportation service has given me the security of knowing that I can get into the community -- be it to the doctor or the grocery store."

"I am so happy to hear the joy at the other end of the phone when I make my Telecare calls. For many of these people, our calls may be the only contact of the day. Our calls play an important role in their safety and security, helping them to remain independent at home."