March 21, 1999
GIVE a hand to seniors
By Malinda Ruble
Staff Writer
In her prime, Marilyn was a vibrant, kind woman, who worked hard and helped others. But as she got on in years, Marilyn found she had no one to turn to when she needed assistance.
Her family had little time for her and with little money, she began to realize she could no longer protect her interests. That's when Marilyn found a friend and an advocate in GIVE.
Guardians Interested in Volunteering for the Elderly was created in Seneca County in 1993. The program was designed to have volunteers assist those indigent seniors who are no longer capable of tending to their own needs and who have no one else capable of assisting them.
"They become a friend who will listen to them, hold their hand, give a hug, pray with them, whatever their needs may be. As that person's advocate, they facilitate health care decisions and strive to ensure that a reasonable quality of life is maintained. They keep check on the ward's physical and mental condition, appearance, living arrangements, nutrition, any evidence of abuse, and last but not least, must be compassionate,'' said Janet Kraft-Cook, program coordinator.
To be eligible for assistance through the GIVE program, a person has been determined to be incompetent by Seneca County Probate Court through an investigation and medical information provided by the personal physician.
"People placed under guardianship have lost their ability to have any meaningful say in their existence &endash; they cannot enter into contracts, often cannot vote, and cannot decide where and how they will live. It says to the adult ward that their powers of mature adulthood are slowly disappearing," Kraft-Cook said.
GIVE volunteers work to help lighten the caseload of the public guardian.
"She has about 30-40 cases and we want to lighten her load so she can take the more difficult cases and give them the time and care needed,'' said Kraft-Cook.
So what's the problem?
"We'd like to have a waiting list to volunteer because we have a waiting list of clients,'' said Kraft-Cook. "We've seen a large increase in the need for guardians.''
"And it's going to keep going up because the elderly population is growing,'' added Bonnie Bird, court investigator.
Presently, there are about seven GIVE volunteers in operation or in training to serve the elderly.
To become a volunteer, the applicant needs to call 448-5098 or stop by the GIVE Tiffin office, 114 E. Market St., Room A, to apply. Three references must be provided and a fingerprinting report will be taken.
If everything is approved, a training session will be provided and a match with a client will take place.
"We ask they devote at least two hours a month,'' said Kraft-Cook. "It's amazing how you become attached to these people. You just sit and talk with them. You become their friend and their protector.''
If a volunteer ever has any doubt on what decision to make for the client, help is always available.
"They can call us for assistance on any decision 24 hours a day,'' she said.
The next training session will be 7 p.m. May 11.