Volunteering for Partners in Care Concierge means you will support older adults and their caregivers by facilitating communication during medical appointments. Though this position is especially appropriate for those with backgrounds in nursing, social work and/or allied health, we are happy to consider any volunteer who is interested in becoming a partner.
JFS offers a comprehensive training program that will give you all of the preparation you’ll need. Our training days take place periodically, so please reach out to us if you’re interested and we will provide you with the upcoming schedule.
Volunteering for Partners in Care Concierge is as big a commitment as you want it to be. Our partners are active anywhere from once per week to once per month. This program fits conveniently into your schedule, while still giving you the opportunity to provide a critical service to your community.
Applicants must have excellent communication and note-taking skills (coupled with legible handwriting), patience and a desire to help older adults navigate the medical system.
What our Partners Say:
Val R.
Partner
I find this program is a good fit for me because it uses the skills that I developed while I was a practicing RN. It is a way for me to contribute to the community I live in, and I also get to meet some very nice and interesting people. Now that I am retired, I love to travel and visit friends and family who do not live nearby. This means I cannot make a weekly commitment to a volunteer job. The Partners in Care Concierge program allows me to volunteer for appointments on my own schedule. I feel I get more out of this program than those that I ‘help.’
Patty B.
Partner
Volunteering in this program is an extremely rewarding and enriching experience. I love getting to know clients and learning their life stories. It is an honor to be entrusted to accompany and assist clients at their medical appointments. As a health care professional myself, I know both personally and professionally how valuable it is to have a health care advocate present at appointments. I have consistently found that medical professionals respect and value the presence of the Patient Partner.
Betsy M.
Partner
I love working with the clients. I am committed to one particular patient who has had many appointments, sometimes as many as 3 in a week. The difference in this patient, with the help from the medical community, is totally immeasurable. I find the program to be very rewarding for both the patient and myself.
Jim D.
Partner
Being a PiCC partner is a wonderful experience. You really see the value in the program and the volunteer opportunity when you introduce yourself to the doctors and nurses and their eyes light up and they say things like, “Wow, what a great idea – we really need more people like you”. Plus it feels good to be able to support the patient in what can be a stressful time of need. Having another set of eyes and ears helps the patient and the health personnel not only in the doctor’s office but also in the pre and post appointment stage. During check-out, the receptionist, who was in a rush, was going to schedule the patient’s follow-up appointment across town rather than at the office down the street from the patient’s home. The patient didn’t catch it. However, I did and the correction was made. It doesn’t seem like much but the patient was very appreciative. Oversights like this happen all the time with older adult patients and that’s where PiCC comes in.
Want to get involved?
If you would like more information about volunteering to be a partner, please contact our volunteer coordinator (volunteer@jfsannarbor.org) or (734) 769-0209.
