Senior Orientation

By: Grace Andleman, Jisell Colin, Matthew Bibeault, Annette Elizaldi,

Clover Sexton, and David Torres
Overview of Project Goals
● Our goal as a group was focused on giving the Seniors an introduction to
the services provided through CAREGIVERS by outlining them throughout
an Infographic, and illustrate understanding that there is an extent to
which tasks fall in line of a volunteers position, as well as showing them
how to properly communicate their preferences with the volunteers
Training Components
1. It’s okay to say no or to ask the volunteer to leave

- If for any reason during your visit you feel uncomfortable with your volunteer,
please communicate the way that you are feeling with CAREGIVERS. Contact
CAREGIVERS at (805)658-8530.
- If you feel uncomfortable with having a stranger in your home at any time
during the visit, please feel free to ask them to remove themselves.
- If the volunteer seems to be wandering through your home/belongings
making you uncomfortable, please call CAREGIVERS at (805)658-8530
- Please remember that this is your home with your personal belongings so you
have the utmost control of what occurs during the volunteers’ visits, if something is
not up to par with your needs and expectations please say so. Thank you for letting
us visit you in your home. If you are uncomfortable with the volunteer visit, please
call CAREGIVERS and let us know what made you uncomfortable.
Training Components (cont.)
2. It’s okay to ask for help

- The CAREGIVERS’ volunteers are there for you! Their goal is to assist you and help make
your life easier.
- The care volunteers understand that it might be hard for you to do certain things around
the house.
- Please keep in mind, some care volunteers might be under the age of 18. So, any alcohol
that might be in the house please put it in a safe place.
- The volunteers understand that it may be difficult for you to ask for help. But there are
some tasks that the volunteers cannot do (e.g. clean toilets, move heavy objects, come in
contact with sharp objects, come in contact with hazardous materials, etc.).
- Please remember the following phrase: “We are here for you!”
Training Components (cont.)
3. Know that CAREGIVERS and the volunteers are at your service

- You may need help from the volunteers or just a companion to talk to.

- Realize that you can benefit from a helping hand.

- Be willing to ask for help.

- If you need certain light household tasks done the volunteer is there at your service for 45

min - 1 hour

- Some of these tasks include vacuuming, laundry, organization, minor home repair, etc.

- You will receive a phone call at least once a month and have a companion to talk to.
Training Components (cont.)
4. Be direct in your needs and clearly communicate your expectations
- Communicate! Provide Seniors with helpful tips on how to engage in clear/constructive
conversations with their volunteer as well as provide feedback when necessary. This will
help ensure that the senior feels empowered and comfortable with new faces in their
home.
- Good communication skills build positive relationships. Discuss methods of dealing with
any situation that leads to them feeling uncomfortable.
- Please specify if you would like a task done a certain way.
- Provide feedback to avoid confusion and to clear up any misunderstandings.
- Make sure the volunteer thoroughly understands what you are saying by asking
questions and encouraging feedback.
Training Components (cont.)
5. Be patient with the volunteers

- The volunteers are a dependable source of support

- Volunteers are not expected to complete everything that you have in mind (volunteers

will only be available for maximum of one hour).

- In the case that a volunteer does or says something to you that you do not like, please do

not confront the volunteer, rather contact CAREGIVERS at (805)658-8530.

- It is expected that you will carry an appropriate use of language

- Absolutely no smoking or alcohol consumption around the presence of volunteers

Training Components (cont.)
6. Know the boundaries

- Keep in mind that these are volunteers and to keep the tasks required reasonable

(cleaning bathtubs, disposing of medical products, etc.)

- While Caregivers are guests in your home, it is important that they feel comfortable as

well.

- We want our volunteers to build a relationship with you, therefore it is important to be

respectful of volunteers in your home.

- If you do not know if a task is allowed, just ask. CAREGIVERS and volunteers are there to

help you.
Infograp
hic
Handout
 Assessment Tools
What we will do in order to evaluate the Seniors’
experience and learning...

● Survey
● Feedback
● Testimonials
● Engage in conversation
● Questions, comments, concerns
Feedback
● Partnering with a CAREGIVERS representative was of substantial use due to the feedback they

provided. Although our group did not have to make any major changes to our handout and

info graph, the staff at CAREGIVERS and their volunteers helped us with grammar errors and

suggested different ways to rephrase points

● Being in contact with both a representative and teen volunteer helped us receive the proper

guidance to develop our material and edit as they suggested.

 Lessons
● Learned
Our service learning project
that we have been working on
throughout this semester has
provided each of us with the
opportunity to develop civic
engagement skills

● We were also able to gain

important experience
working with diverse
members in our community
Acknowledgements
● Our group members would like to give a special thank
you to the following people...
- Dr. Chen
- Tammy Glenn (Executive Director at CAREGIVERS)
- Jailene Romero (Youth Engagement Coordinator at
CAREGIVERS)
- Sandy Galin (Advancement Director at CAREGIVERS)
- Olivia Gilbert (Program Assistant at CAREGIVERS)
- The rest of the staff at CAREGIVERS
- CAREGIVERS volunteers