| People like to volunteer. They | | | | two hours, 2, 3, 4, 5 times a week based on the |
| feel they have something of value to offer. People | | | | assessed needs of the participant. |
| like to volunteer in Long Term Healthcare (LTHC) | | | | This program allows for the |
| nursing homes for any number of reasons; the basic | | | | participant to become familiar with at least some of |
| reasons include: to feel better about themselves, to | | | | the nursing home staff. It also reassures their family |
| help others, or to learn something. | | | | that someone is with them during these scheduled |
| Someone may have or have had a | | | | visits. Because it is an outreach program, |
| loved one in a nursing home and understands the | | | | participants can get home-based support to do the |
| basics of residential life, some may not, and others | | | | activities and complete the projects they desire at a |
| still may want to volunteer as part of a class or | | | | pace that works for them. |
| group project. Whatever their reason, whatever | | | | Because H.A.R.P. was designed to |
| their goal, getting them to be a part of the team is | | | | be powered by a volunteer work force an extensive |
| critical. The best and only way to make them feel | | | | twenty-four clock hour training course was |
| they are part of the team is to provide them with | | | | developed to give the volunteer tools and resources |
| free training. | | | | needed to implement the program and not just keep |
| There is a revolutionary new | | | | it going, but to make it thrive. The training course is |
| program that is changing the way LTHC performs | | | | broken down into six four-hour units that are critical |
| community service, recruits volunteers, work with | | | | for the H.A.R.P. volunteer but can easily be adapted |
| and trains their volunteers. This program is called | | | | to any LTHC volunteer training and orientation. To |
| H.A.R.P. (Home Assisted Recreation Program). | | | | be a best fit program, it was designed to be taught |
| H.A.R.P. is being herald as the first new significant | | | | 1-2 units weekly, but has the flexibility to meet |
| direction of the Millennium Culture Change. H.A.R.P. | | | | everyone's needs. |
| is the LTHC nursing home is the solution for the | | | | Upon successful completion of the |
| nationwide trend of elderly senior citizens staying at | | | | training course, the volunteer will have covered |
| home longer in their golden years before moving into | | | | activity services, programming, the biology of aging, |
| their local nursing home. | | | | team building skills, environmental safety, and in-home |
| This trend has several impacts on | | | | activities. The training course comes with both |
| LTHC. They have an ever shrinking pool of viable | | | | student and instructor training materials and a |
| marketing opportunities, which then has an impact on | | | | Certificate of Completion. Please contact the author |
| the overall census. On the other side, seniors who | | | | for more information about course materials. |
| choose to stay home longer are coming into LTHC | | | | Once the volunteer training is |
| with a larger decline in their health, in their physical | | | | complete the outreach phase is ready to rollout. By |
| abilities to do activities. They need more health care | | | | using press releases and bulletin board notices |
| than they did a decade ago. | | | | strategically placed in churches, grocery stores, senior |
| To remedy this decline, H.A.R.P. | | | | centers, doctor's offices and in the newspaper you |
| was developed to bring activities to these stay at | | | | begin recruiting your program participants. As each |
| home seniors. It is proverbial, if Muhammad won't | | | | new participant joins, a comprehensive assessment |
| come to the mountain, then bring the mountain to | | | | needs to be done by a certified Activity Director and |
| Muhammad. Just because a senior decides to stay | | | | a program set up that meets the needs of that |
| home longer doesn't mean they don't need | | | | participant. |
| structured activities to keep them motivated, alert, | | | | And then sit back and let the good |
| focused, and physically well-off. H.A.R.P. was | | | | times roll. As your volunteers meet with their clients |
| designed to be run by volunteer workers and | | | | and build a lasting relationship with them and when |
| overseen by an LTHC Activity Director. The | | | | the time comes for needing permanent placement, |
| volunteer, equipped with a handful of pre-determined | | | | we believe that the family and the client will pick you |
| activities to do with the participant based on an | | | | and your nursing home. |
| assessment protocol, goes into the home for one to | | | | |