Volunteer Opportunities
Welcome to the South Madison Coalition of the Elderly Volunteer Opportunities page!
Without volunteers like you, these programs could not exist. We are all working together to help frail and limited income older adults remain independent and in their own homes. And you, as a volunteer, have the unique opportunity to help meet this need. Please read the descriptions of our volunteer needs below in order to choose which one is right for you. We look forward to a rewarding relationship with you as we work together to provide quality service to older adults!
Volunteer Guardian Program
The Volunteer Guardian Program serves seniors age 60 and over who are in need of a guardian due to such conditions as advanced dementia or chronic mental illness, and who have no family members or friends able to act as a guardian. The program recruits, trains, and provides ongoing support to volunteers willing to serve as legal guardians for older adults in need. The preferences and abilities of the volunteer and the specific needs of the disabled older adult are taken into account in the assignment process.
What Are the Responsibilities of a Guardian?
There are two types of guardians, and a person can serve as one or both. Each type has different responsibilities:
- A guardian for a person visits the person regularly, makes decisions regarding care such as the place of residence and medical needs, maintains regular contact with caregivers, acts to ensure that the person is receiving optimal care, and reports annually to the court on the person's welfare.
- A guardian for an estate receives and manages all income and assets on the person's behalf, pays all bills for care and other need, and makes an annual financial accounting to the court.
Who Can Serve as a Guardian?
A guardian must be a caring adult in good physical and mental health. He or she should possess good verbal and bookkeeping skills and a desire to advocate the rights and needs of another person. The guardian needs to be able to volunteer three to six hours per month.
Volunteers must complete an application, undergo a criminal background check, and have positive references.
Volunteers are asked to serve for a minimum of two years.
What is Not Required of a Guardian?
Guardians do not personally provide care or financial support to the person for whom they are responsible. They are not personally liable for acts committed by that person. Guardians are exempt from civil liability for decisions they make on behalf of that person, provided the decisions are reasonable and made in good faith.
If you would like to become a Volunteer Guardian or need more information, call the South Madison Coalition of the Elderly at 251-8408 or email our Guardian Coordinator at coalition@smcelder.com.
Home Chore Volunteer Program
The Home Chore Volunteer Program was developed in 1986 to assist frail, limited income older adults with basic home chores to help them remain independent and in their own homes. Since that first year the program has grown to include not only individual volunteers but also groups from businesses and other organizations that are interested in doing a volunteer project for and with older adults. The program has also expanded into the high schools of Madison.
What Are Things a Home Chore Volunteer Might Do?
Home Chore Volunteers help older adults with light housework such as cleaning floors, washing windows, doing laundry, taking out garbage, minor home repairs, garden work, and even chit chatting.
"This is great for anyone who wants to give back to the community and make a friend. I was glad to help someone do what they needed to stay independent. We chose this program because it was flexible enough to work with our schedules." -- former Home Chore volunteer
How Do I Apply to Become a Home Chore Volunteer?
Volunteers will be given a job description and asked to complete an application. The process will include an interview by the Home Chore Coordinator with the purpose of discussing the interests and needs of the volunteer, the requirements of the position, and administrative details.
The Home Chore Volunteer Program places volunteers in the homes of older adults. In order to ensure quality service and protect the older adults we serve, the Coalitions will check references along with the criminal history of each applicant.
Other Volunteer Opportunities
Meal Site Assistant
If you have a few free hours during the week day, come join us as we serve meals to older adults. Volunteers will assist with food prep, home deliver meals, serving meals, cleaning up afterward and visiting with the older adults attending the program.
Office Assistant
We are looking for an honest and trustworthy person to help us with a variety of administrative tasks in our new office. Help us sort our mail, copy memos, file documents and do other various jobs once a week or so.
Senior Center Assistant
Enjoy an afternoon with older adults by assisting with various senior center programs. Assistance is needed to help with bingo, meal preparation and craft activities. The Neighborhood Senior Center provides a variety of programs that are scheduled in low-income housing. The goal of this program is to provide older adults with social and education activities.
Handymen and Women
If you have a knack for fixing things and want to lend your talents to others in you community, this is the opportunity for you. The South Madison Coalition of the Elderly has a number of odd jobs that could use a creative mind and strong hands on an as needed basis.
Board and Committee Members
The coalition is always looking for individuals to serve as a member of our Board of Directors and Committee Members. We are looking for individual who are concern about the need of older adults in our community and who have about three hours every month to help set direction and policies for the coalition in the future.
Representative Payee
As a volunteer representative payee you will help older adults who struggle to manage the money they receive from Social Security. You will help them pay their bills and manage their finances. You will need about 4 hours a month to work with this older adult.
For more information on any of these opportunties, call 251-8405 or email us at coalition@smcelder.com.