ENROLLING AS A VOLUNTEER

• Thank you for wanting to be part of our mission to help SaddleBrooke residents live independently in their homes. Your first step is to register on our Village site by clicking: Volunteer Registration. After you have entered your name and password, you will receive a confirmation email. Make sure you keep your password because you will need it often.

• Now that you have a Village account, you will need to login and fill in your Volunteer Form.

  PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THESE SECTIONS:

  • Your email address: All assignments are sent out through email. Each volunteer must have his/her own email address.

  • Special skills: Let us know a bit about your background and experience.

  • Days you are available: Mark as many days/times as possible for your availability so that you will have a better chance of receiving service requests.

  • Special information: Check your personal preferences.

  • Driving zones: This will let us know the areas of Tucson you will transport members. Choose any or all four of the zones.

  • Services you wish to volunteer for: See below for an explanation of our teams.

  • Documentation for our liability insurance coverage: Every volunteer, no matter what team, must provide us with a copy of your current driver’s license and auto insurance. Please follow the instructions on how to email a jpg with this information. It’s easy when you take a photo with your cell phone.

• After you submit your online volunteer form, you will soon be contacted by the Training Coordinator informing you of the next step. See below for details.

CHOOSING A VOLUNTEER TEAM

Depending on your interests and experience, you may choose any of the following teams for your volunteer service.

• Going My Way: Drive members to medical appointments, grocery shopping, or hair salons.

• Helping Hands: Perform simple tasks around the house or yard such as fixing a door knob, hanging a picture, trouble-shooting a computer, and moving patio furniture.

• Lockbox Installation: Install residential lockboxes as provided for the member by the Golder Ranch Fire Department for entry into the house in emergency situations.

• Fun With Friends: Make social phone calls; write and send birthday cards; join book club; phone members to invite to activities; support men's monthly social hour.

• Dispatch: Respond to members’ phone calls requesting a service; route the messages to the correct recipient via the Village computer program. Must be computer savvy.

• Admin Clerical: Help with preparing newsletter and other mailings; fold, sort, address, etc.

• Membership: Interview prospective members in their homes, fill in their intake forms and enter this information into an online form for the member.

• Home Technology: Help with setting up voice command devices such as Alexa. Help with setting up smart plugs, lights, door bells, and thermostats.

• Forms & Documents: In the role of a volunteer advocate, you will help members organize paperwork and fill in forms, as well as meet with them to review the Planning Ahead handbook where they may enter important personal, legal, and financial data. When appropriate, you will work with widowed members to discuss information on responsibilities after the death of a spouse/partner.

• Moving On: As a personal advocate on this team, you would be assigned to help members work with a consultant to find a long-term residence, downsize their home and provide support as they transition from SaddleBrooke.

• Support Team: Home visits to assess needs, formulate suggestions/options and provide resource information.

  • Friendly Connection Team: Home companion social visits which may include phone calls, walks, games and conversation. Visits monitored by the Support Team.

FOUR STEPS TO YOUR VOLUNTEER TRAINING

1. You will receive a welcome email from the Training Coordinator informing you of the date of the next monthly Basic Orientation. During this 1 hour, 15-minute session, you will learn the basics of how to be an effective volunteer for Senior Village. This orientation is required for ALL new volunteers, per the agreement with our insurance company. At the training session, you will choose the team on which you want to serve.

2. Before you attend the Basic Orientation, the Training Coordinator will also send you a Volunteer Agreement and a security Background Check form. You will need to fill these in and attach a hard copy of your driver’s license and auto insurance. The cost of this confidential vetting is covered by the Village and conforms to the requirements of our liability insurance (CIMA through the Village to Village Network).

3. Soon thereafter, the leader of the team you have chosen will contact you for a brief Team Orientation in which you will learn the specifics of how the team functions and what your role will be.

4. Within a few days, the Village Administrator will receive approval from our vetting company, True Hire, and you will be issued your Village name badge. You are now ready to serve on your team(s) as you become part of “neighbors helping neighbors” in the Senior Village family.

Training Dates

BASIC ORIENTATION TRAINING:

• WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21 AT 2:30 PM.
• WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20 AT 2:30 PM.

Questions?  Email Mary Toth, Volunteer Coordinator at mary.toth@seniorvillage.org