Editor’s Note: RSVP is a referral service designed to place volunteers in non-profit organizations where their knowledge and skills positively impact the community and individuals served. The following article is part of a monthly series by RSVP highlighting the community based involvement and service of RSVP volunteers.
Volunteers for RSVP donate their time to many worthwhile activities. Generally, most of their service benefits individuals and groups in the local community. However, on Mondays Clearfield County RSVP volunteers with the APPRISE program answer the Pennsylvania Department of Aging’s statewide hotline and assist individuals from across the state and sometimes other states by answering questions about Medicare, Medicaid, long term care insurance and other health insurances.
APPRISE is the designated State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) in our state and is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA). APPRISE helps people with Medicare understand and navigate their health care coverage options so they can make sound decisions that support both their physical and financial health. APPRISE is a free and confidential service, delivered by more than 350 volunteers and paid staff across the Commonwealth. Fifty-two local APPRISE programs and 11 Telecenters, managed by coordinators at the county-based agencies make services available to anyone who is in need. The Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging Inc. is the administrator for Clearfield County APPRISE program.
APPRISE certified Medicare counselors are specially trained volunteers who can answer questions about Medicare, Medigap, Medicare Advantage plans, prescription drug coverage, Long Term Care, preventive care, and more. They also serve as advocates for people with Medicare who wants help filing a claim or resolving a dispute over their health care.
Teams of volunteers and staff provide individual counseling and assistance, community education presentations, and printed materials to the public. Certified APPRISE Medicare Counselors conduct the client counseling via toll-free phone lines or in person at local offices located in every county in Pennsylvania.
One of the volunteers for the Clearfield County APPRISE program is RSVP volunteer Donna DuFour. Donna has been a PA Department of Aging certified APPRISE counselor since December of 2003. Donna mans the APPRISE Telecenter and she loves it. Donna says, “It is a very educational program. I like helping people and with our trainings, I have a better understanding of a wide-range of Medicare topics.”
APPRISE Telecenter counselors receive special training and regular updates on the latest health insurance information. These counselors have direct access to state and federal Medicare information and resources. Their job is to answer questions about Medicare, Medicaid, and long-term care insurance or to refer them to the appropriate services.
Alice Pollock, APPRISE Coordinator for the CCAAA, works closely with the volunteers. Pollock says, “Our ultimate goal is that everyone who contacts us gets access to caring, patient, clear and timely information. We are often the “last resort” in a long list of calls by a consumer to get an answer. Our volunteers are the heart of the
APPRISE program that work with community partners and the APPRISE network to get accurate, complete and unbiased information to our clients. Volunteers can help the APPRISE program in a number of ways based on their interests, skills and time they have to commit to the program. We appreciate any amount of time the volunteers can give.”
Consumers approach APPRISE for a variety of reasons – to understand options for those new to Medicare, to compare the cost of their current coverage with other plans, to get help solving problems with their billing and payment, to report suspected Medicare fraud, and more. APPRISE is a trusted source of information.
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging and the CCAAA APPRISE Coordinator provide all training. This is an opportunity to make an impact on the lives of many older adults. If you would like to become an RSVP volunteer for APPRISE, please call the RSVP office.
APRIL VOLUNTEER CORNER:
SPECIAL PROJECTS: Do you want to volunteer but are interested in sporadic or seasonal positions? RSVP has special projects you can assist with that are seasonal but have a great impact on your community. Some examples are sewing quilts for children who are in traumatic situations, preparing special mailings for organizations, or singing and visiting in a local nursing/personal care home. If you have a specific organization or nursing/personal care home that you care about and would like to do special projects for them, please give us a call.
ENVIRONMENTAL VOLUNTEERS: Do you enjoy the outdoors? Would you like to make a positive impact on the environment? Come join the Clearfield County Senior Environment Corps. The Environmental Alliance for Senior Involvement has positions for volunteers 55 and older to share their expertise, knowledge and skills. Volunteers may monitor the water quality of local streams, enter data into a database, or talk with children about the importance of a healthy environment and what they can do to help keep the environment safe for the future. Make a difference for future generations.
CLERICAL VOLUNTEERS: Many non-profit organizations could use extra assistance with office duties from time to time. Duties could include answering the phone, typing, filing and helping with special events. Training is provided by the station and scheduling is flexible.
PEN PAL: Many residents of nursing/personal care homes receive little or no mail. They may feel frustrated at their loss of independence and need a connection to their community. RSVP volunteers are needed to brighten a resident’s life by writing letters monthly to the residents. This is an opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life.
If you are interested in any of the above volunteer opportunities or would like to learn more about RSVP, please call the RSVP office at 814-765-2226 or 1-800-225-8571.
RSVP is sponsored and partially funded by the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging Inc. Additional funding is provided by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Clearfield and DuBois United Way agencies, memorials and contributions.