Posted by Allie (152.163.252.230) on April 22, 2004 at 16:15:40:
In Reply to: HELP!!! What can Volunteers do??? posted by Molly5 on April 21, 2004 at 19:11:28:
:Hi That is great. My volunteer goes on outings with us. It is such a great help. Having an extra person so you dont have to take another activity assistant who could be doing activities in the home. One helps with our pizza night, transporting to programs, bringing residents outside. story reading, photo coping calendars and posting them.1:1 visits are excellent. Barbecues setting up. I wish I had more. One of mine has been a volunteer for 11 years and is just like a staff member.
We have had an enormous response to an article in the local paper soliciting volunteers. All of a sudden they are coming out of the woodwork. My director and I are very happy, but we are swamped with trying to plug them into activities that they can do without a whole lot of hand holding, direction and supervision. We have some young volunteers, who we know could be very useful but who may not have a natural "knack" with engaging a resident. We have them go around with an eyeglass cleaning basket, deliver mail,take dictation, manicures.......etc etc. I need some IDEAS that we can easily "pull" that do not require alot of supervision. Today, It felt like we just trying to "manage" the volunteers. They finish their room visits......come back to the office or find us in a program and ask," OK what should I do now?" Any suggestions would be so helpful....Thanks!!!!!!!!!!