Frequently Asked Questions
The Center recruits, screens, trains and supports Volunteer Caregivers from the faith community and the community at large. Volunteers are matched with older adults and adults with disabilities who need non-medical assistance.
People 18 years of age or older from all walks of life with diverse backgrounds, abilities and interests, who have a desire to help others. All volunteer caregivers receive training regarding The Center’s services, as well as information about community resources.
• Transportation
• Shopping/Running Errands for Care Receivers
• Respite/Family Caregiver Support
• Light Housekeeping/Light Yard Work
• Friendly Visiting/TeleCare
• Help with Paperwork
Referrals from individuals in need of assistance, family and friends
Referrals from hospitals, home health agencies, social service agencies, congregations, and health care providers
Referrals from Resources for Seniors , AARP, The Triangle J Area Agency on Aging, and other agencies which support older adults and adults with disabilities
Through its volunteers, The Center strives to serve all of Wake County: Apex, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Morrisville, Raleigh, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Wendell, and Zebulon.
The Center’s services are intended to help people remain living independently in their own homes and to supplement the help that family and neighborhood caregivers can provide. A Care Receiver who moves from any independent living situation to an assisted living or nursing home may continue to receive friendly visiting or Telecare, under the auspices of The Center, in the spirit of maintaining an existing relationship with a Volunteer and in keeping with our mission. However, a new volunteer will not be assigned.
• Resident of Wake County, living at home, not in a long term care facility.
• Age 60 or above with economic or social needs that put them at risk of compromised health or institutional placement
• Age between 18 and 60 with a disability or chronic health issue that put them at risk of compromised health or institutional placement
The Center has no established “charge” for our services. It is important to us that anyone who really needs our help receives it, regardless of ability to contribute. However, it does cost money to operate The Center. Our annual budget includes staff salaries, insurance, telephone, materials and supplies, postage, rent, and other costs associated with running the organization. We ask that everyone who receives help from The Center make contributions, as they are able, towards the cost of running the organization.
There are no easy answers to this question. The Center has no established “charge” for our services. How much you can contribute depends on a number of factors. When considering how much you can afford, you might ask yourself questions like:
• How much money do I have left each month after paying my bills, including my medications?
• Are my adult children able to stay at work because a Center Volunteer provides rides or chore assistance to me?
• Would they have to use vacation or sick time to take me to my medical appointments? If this is the case, could my son or daughter help cover some of the costs of the help I receive from The Center?
• Are The Center’s services helping me to remain living in my own home? Base your contributions on how The Center’s services extend the length of your independence and save you the cost of assisted living or a nursing home placement.
No. People choose to volunteer at The Center because they want to help. We provide educational opportunities for them, occasional gas cards for their mileage costs, and host annual volunteer appreciation events. All Volunteers are instructed not to accept cash gifts and ask rather that a donation be made to The Center.
The Center’s operating funds come from a variety of sources. We are supported by our partners, individual and corporate donations, fundraising events, and state and federal grants. State and federal grants cover a lot of our costs but are not guaranteed from year to year. It would not be possible for us to provide the kind of help that we do without the financial support of our partners, individuals and corporate donors. Check our Annual Report for a complete listing.
• Volunteer, involve your faith community, business, or civic group
• Invite us to speak to your group
• Become a Financial Contributor through individual giving, planned giving, or in-kind contributions
• Support our on-going fundraising efforts