Featured Agency: Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging

The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley partners with Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging as an advocate for older adults, empowering them to remain independent. Here they share how they use volunteers to help fulfill their mission.

Volunteers play a critical role in helping Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A)  fulfill our mission of empowering older adults to remain independent and in their homes for as long as they desire. NEI3A relies on thousands of volunteers who generously donate their time and talents throughout our 18 county service area.

Volunteers help in many different capacities throughout NEI3A. While each volunteer role is important, one of the most essential positions is the home delivered meal volunteers. These volunteers deliver a hot, nutritious noon meal to seniors Monday through Friday each week. Other volunteer positions include a senior services receptionist who assists with answering phones, greeting and assisting visitors, and taking meal reservations or cancellations. The clerical coordinator helps assist with daily clerical tasks. Nutrition assistant assists with the home delivered meal program as well as the congregate meal program. Transit drivers help provide transportation for seniors to attend medical appointments and other necessary appointments. Volunteers also help protect seniors from Medicare Fraud through the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program. SMP volunteers are trained to make community presentations and help at exhibit events to promote awareness about how to protect, detect, and report Medicare Fraud.

Volunteers are always needed at NEI3A. To secure volunteer opportunities call the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley at 272-2087. Volunteer opportunities may also be accessed at www.vccv.org or Volunteer Solutions.

 

Our thanks to Vicki Hyke, NEI3A.