Executive Summary
WIAAA 2004 Needs Assessment
WIAAA-Funded Providers’
Current & Possible Future Utilization
of Volunteers
Purpose of This Needs Assessment
One of the goals of Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging for
2005 – 2007 area plan is "in collaboration with RSVP, to assist
providers in the utilization of volunteers, where appropriate and desired, to
alleviate the difficulties created by insufficient resources." This
goal was developed in response to the challenges faced by agencies/programs
providing services to seniors: decreasing financial and human resources, but
increasing needs.
The needs assessment upon which we are reporting in this
document was developed and distributed as the first step in the process of
addressing this goal.
Background Information re: Western
Illinois Area Agency on Aging
Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging (WIAAA) is a
not-for-profit planning and service agency in Rock Island, Illinois, which
serves a 10-county area in western Illinois (PSA 03). Counties in this
planning and service area include Bureau, Henderson, Henry, Knox, LaSalle,
McDonough, Mercer, Putnam, Rock Island and Warren counties.
WIAAA’s primary objectives are to develop a system of
services to aid older persons in continuing to live independent, meaningful
and dignified lives and to assure equal access to available services. All
activities undertaken by WIAAA are designed to enhance services in a
professional, consistent manner that reflects respect for the dignity of older
persons.
WIAAA is part of the nationwide network of Area Agencies on
Aging authorized in 1973 by the Older Americans Act to coordinate the
provision of services for seniors.
WIAAA-funded providers offer the following services to seniors
(persons 60 years of age and older):
- Community Focal Points (CFPs) – , includes outreach and information
& assistance, as well as senior center activities
- Home-delivered meals
- Transportation
- Case management
- Congregate meals
- Legal assistance
- Gap filling
The service priority list for the National Family Caregiver
Support Program, which includes incorporates Grandparents Raising
Grandchildren, includes:
- Respite services (in-home, adult day care, and institutional)
- Information
- Assistance
- Counseling/Training/ Support Groups
- Supplemental Services
In addition to this service priority list, WIAAA continues to
support the following services:
- Respite
- Disease prevention & health promotion
- Elder abuse
- Ombudsman
In addition to the services listed above, WIAAA also offers
seniors the opportunity to participate in volunteer activities through the
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), of which WIAAA is the local
sponsor.
Background Information re: RSVP of Eastern Iowa & Western
Illinois
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Eastern
Iowa & Western Illinois is part of the national Senior Corps program
administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service,
Washington, D.C. Throughout the United States, RSVP recruits, trains and
places senior volunteers (55 years of age and older) in not-for-profit,
charitable, community service and governmental entities in their respective
communities. Each RSVP program receives funding from the Corporation and other
funders and is sponsored by a local governmental or not-for-profit agency.
RSVP of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois is sponsored by
WIAAA and receives funding from the Corporation for National and Community
Service, the State of Illinois, the State of Iowa, and United Way of the Quad
Cities Area. The WIAAA-sponsored RSVP program currently provides services in
the Quad Cities (Scott County, Iowa, and Rock Island County, Illinois), as
well as in Henry County and Warren County, Illinois. It is advised by the RSVP
Advisory Council, with representatives from each of the counties served.
RSVP provides its volunteers with supplemental insurance,
mileage reimbursement up to $15/month, and reimbursement for meals up to $8
per month for volunteers whose work shifts extend 4 hours or longer on
the day for which reimbursement is sought. RSVP volunteers also report
"intangible" benefits of fellowship with other volunteers and the
good feeling that comes with "giving back" to their respective
communities.
In addition to providing benefits to the senior volunteers,
the RSVP program also provides a valuable service to community agencies and
programs, especially in these times of decreasing financial resources and
increasing human needs.
In 2003, nearly 900 senior volunteers from the RSVP of Eastern
Iowa & Western Illinois program provided more than 126,000 hours of
service at 109 locations in their respective communities.
Methodology Employed in This Needs
Assessment of Funded Providers
In November 2003, WIAAA surveyed 37
WIAAA-funded providers (representing 100% of WIAAA-funded
providers) regarding their current utilization of volunteers in WIAAA-funded
activities, their plans for possible future utilization of volunteers, and
their assessment of ways in which RSVP could be helpful to them.
The results are described in general in this Executive
Summary and in greater detail in the Assessment Findings sections
of this report.
WIAAA and RSVP staff have reviewed these findings and will use
them as the foundation for developing plans to address the goal of assisting
WIAAA-funded providers in utilizing volunteers, as appropriate and desired, to
alleviate the challenges created by insufficient fiscal and human resources.
WIAAA acknowledges that this study and the results are not
statistically reliable; nonetheless, the information is helpful in the ongoing
development of the Agency’s volunteer program and in providing assistance to
WIAAA’s funded providers.
General Overview of Provider Responses
22 WIAAA-funded providers responded to the survey.
In brief:
17 providers indicated that they currently utilize volunteers in
WIAAA-funded activities.
14 providers indicated they would consider utilizing volunteers in the
future; 8 indicated they would not.
14 providers reported having difficulty in recruiting volunteers.
6 providers reported having difficulty retaining volunteers.
18 providers indicated they view the RSVP program as potentially helpful
to them.
17 providers requested more information regarding RSVP.
16 17 providers requested assistance from RSVP as indicated below:
Assisting providers in:
(4)
Developing volunteer tasks
(6
) Developing volunteer job descriptions
(13)
Recruitment ofRecruiting volunteers
(8)
Conducting the initial interview of prospective
volunteers,determining skills and interest
(6)
Developing training materials for volunteers
(5)
Developing volunteer-retention strategies
(6)
Developing volunteer-recognition activities
(2)
Other (e.g.,Providing funding for incentivesmileage reimbursement (up to $15
per month)
10
Providing supplemental insurance for volunteers
- 12 providers indicated they currently provide some form of reimbursement
to their volunteers: such as mileage reimbursement)
- Providing volunteers with
(17) Mileage
reimbursement (up to $15 per month)
(10) Supplemental
insurance
- 12 providers indicated they currently provide some form of reimbursement
to their volunteers:
(9) Meals
(1) Thank-you notes
(1) Inclusion in
staff functions for fun events
(1) Small gifts of
appreciation at the annual volunteer-recognition party
(1) Annual volunteer
tea with drawings for gifts
WIAAA/RSVP Plan Based on These Findings
Based on these responses from WIAAA-funded providers, the RSVP
program director or recruitment specialist, the WIAAA planner, and a member of
the WIAAA Programs staff will meet with each of the providers who has
requested assistance from the RSVP program. Following these meetings, RSVP
staff will develop a work plan, timelines and budget, discuss these with WIAAA
management, and seek funding, as necessary, to provide additional assistance
to the funded providers.
The WIAAA-sponsored RSVP staff will work throughout 2005 with
each of the providers who requested assistance, providing technical assistance
in developing volunteer tasks and job descriptions; developing recruitment
plans; conducting the initial interview and determining prospective volunteers’
skills and interest; developing volunteer-retention strategies; and developing
volunteer-recognition activities.
The RSVP Program Director will provide monthly periodic update
reports regarding this initiative.
Assessment Findings
Response by WIAAA-funded Providers
The following WIAAA-funded providers responded to this
needs assessment:
Addus Health Care (all 10 counties in the WIAAA Planning &
Service Area)
Alternatives for the Older Adult, Inc. (all 10 counties in the WIAAA
Planning & Service Area)
American Red Cross (McDonough County)
Bureau County Senior Citizens’ Association (Bureau County)
Community Hospital of Ottawa (LaSalle County)
Good Life, Inc./Visiting Angels (Rock Island County) I changed
LaSalle Co. to Rock Island County for Good Life.
Henderson County Health Department (Henderson County)
Henderson County Health Department Respite (Henderson County)
Henry County Health Department (multiple counties)
Henry County Senior Center (Henry County)
Home Instead Senior Care (Rock Island County)
Knox County Council for Developmental Disabilities (multiple
counties)
Knox County Nursing Home (multiple counties)
LaMoine Christian Nursing Home (multiple counties)
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois In-Touch Day Services for Older
Adults (multiple counties)
Mendota Area Senior Services (LaSalle County)
Mercer County Senior Citizens’ Center (Mercer County)
Prairie State Legal Services (all 10 counties in the WIAAA Planning
& Service Area)
Putnam County Achievement Services (Putnam County)
Rock Island County Senior Center/Project NOW (Rock Island County;
also has two townships in Mercer County for meals)Strom Center (Warren
County)
VNA Community Services (Knox County)
Providers Who Currently Utilize
Volunteers
The following 17 WIAAA-funded providers currently utilize
volunteers:
- Alternatives for the Older Adult
- American Red Cross
- Bureau County Seniors
- Community Hospital of Ottawa
- Henderson County Health Department
- Henry County Seniors
- Knox County Council for Developmental Disabilities
- Knox County Nursing Home
- Lamoine Christian Nursing Home
- Lutheran Social Services of Illinois
- Mendota Area Senior Services
- Mercer County Seniors
- Prairie State Legal Services
- Putnam County Achievement
- Rock Island County Senior Center/Project NOW
- Strom Center
- VNA Community Services
Ways in which volunteers currently are utilized by the
above providers include:
- Activities assistant
- Activities leader
- Adult day care assistant
- Bulk mailings
- Computer consulting
- Computer training
- Clerical assistance, filing
- Congregate meal site assistants
- Daily announcements
- Data entry
- Drivers: take seniors to appointments
- Drivers: deliver meals to seniors
- Money management / payees
- Musicians
- Receptionist
- Serve on board or advisory council
- SHARE program – sort, organize, distribute food
- Thrift shop
Comments from these providers re: how utilization of
volunteers has been successful include:
- Extended services to clients.
- Meals have been delivered to those who cannot get out.
- Volunteers always get the task done and have a good time.
- Extra hands and eyes for demonstrating and assisting activities and
crafts.
- We can keep our costs down for our meals program by using volunteers,
also for our transportation program.
- All areas listed on page 1 [of needs assessment survey].
- For special programs/activities.
- Involve them in different area of home, not the same routine.
- Always beneficial – mutually.
- They provide the assistance with projects and fundraisers that staff
doesn’t have time for.
- Some have worked out and their friendship and help has made a better
situation.
- They have assisted us with time-consuming clerical duties.
- Meal sites and home-delivered meals.
- We depend a great deal on volunteers – they have been wonderful in
many ways.
- In 2003 we had 7164 hours of volunteer work.
- Only way we can keep thrift shop open and running.
Providers Who Might Consider Utilizing
Volunteers in the Future
The following 14 providers indicated that they would
consider utilizing volunteers in the future:
- American Red Cross
- Bureau County Seniors
- Community Hospital of Ottawa
- Good Life Inc./Visiting Angels
- Henry County Health Department
- Home Instead Senior Care
- Knox County Council for Developmental Disabilities
- Knox County Nursing Home
- Lutheran Social Services of Illinois
- Mendota Area Senior Services
- Mercer County Seniors
- Prairie State Legal Services
- Putnam County Achievement
- Rock Island County Senior Center/Project NOW
- Strom Center
Pertinent comments from these providers who would consider
utilizing volunteers in the future include:
- We always need and use volunteers.
- Such as workshops? Yes.
Providers Who Indicated They Would Not
Consider Utilizing Volunteers in the Future
The following 8 providers indicated that they would not
consider utilizing volunteers in the future:
- Addus Healthcare
- Alternatives for the Older Adult
- Henderson County Health Department Respite
- Henderson County Health Department
- Henry County Health Department
- Henry County Senior Center
- Knox County Council for Developmental Disabilities
- VNA Community Services
Pertinent comments from these providers re: why they would
not consider utilizing volunteers in the future included:
- Our services require our employees working with customers to have
training.
- Our director feels it would be hard for us to coordinate job duties
and use them effectively.
Providers Who Have Encountered
Difficulty in Recruiting Volunteers
The following 14 providers indicated that they have
encountered difficulty in utilizing volunteers:
- Alternatives for the Older Adult
- Bureau County Seniors
- Community Hospital of Ottawa
- Henderson County Health Department
- Henry County Seniors
- Knox County Council for Developmental Disabilities
- Knox County Nursing Home
- Lamoine Christian Nursing Home
- Lutheran Social Services of Illinois
- Mercer County Seniors
- Putnam County Achievement
- Rock Island County Senior Center/Project NOW
- Strom Center
- VNA Community Services
Pertinent comments from these providers re: how utilization
of volunteers has been difficult include:
- Required training, attendance, turnover.
- People are already very busy.
- Minimal response until recently – new group of 4 volunteers.
- Recently – Our current volunteers are getting older and we are not
getting the younger ones willing to replace or assist them.
- Younger people are still working. Former volunteers are getting old.
- Meeting the time frames needed at the center. Difficult to have
volunteer on PRN (as needed) status, especially for outings.
- Difficult to get volunteers to start once they commit to the volunteer
program.
- In trying to retain commitments reaching the under-55 age.
- A lot of volunteers are older and they would rather work with
children.
- Those within the center are getting too old and have poor health.
Volunteers from outside the center have a hard time adjusting to those
who come in the center all the time.
- Home-delivered meals has a large ongoing need for volunteers. RSVP
could be of assistance in this area.
- Sometimes drivers are hard to find.
- Many people say, Call when you need me – busy when you do.
Providers Who Have Experienced
Difficulty in Using Volunteers
The following 9 providers indicated that they have
encountered difficulty in utilizing volunteers:
- Alternatives for the Older Adult
- Bureau County Seniors
- Lamoine Christian Nursing Home
- Lutheran Social Services of Illinois
- Mendota Area Senior Services
- Mercer County Seniors
- Prairie State Legal Services
- Putnam County Achievement
- Strom Center
Pertinent comments from these providers re: how utilization
of volunteers has been challenging include:
- Getting them to turn in documentation of volunteer time/retention/and
attendance for ongoing training hours.
- Some have limited abilities and need close monitoring.
- I would like to see a more . . . structure (working on it).
- Spend a lot of time training – then they leave.
- Age limitations – many aren’t able to help with some fundraising
events where we need them most.
- They don’t like to follow rules and listen when you are telling them
who is in charge.
- Sometimes they take more direction than it is worth – more
time-consuming for a very busy staff.
- Some volunteers are not able to carry out the duties so supervisors
(have to supervise more closely)
Providers Who Have Experienced
Difficulty in Retaining Volunteers
The following 6 providers indicated that they have
encountered difficulty in retaining volunteers:
- Alternatives for the Older Adult
- Henderson County Health Department
- Lutheran Social Services of Illinois
- Mercer County Seniors
- Putnam County Achievement
- VNA Community Services
Pertinent comments from these providers re: how they have
experienced difficulty in retaining volunteers include:
- In ombudsman program only.
- Due to age and health reasons.
- Other commitments.
- People being able to work together and accept each other’s ways.
- Sometimes – the long-time seniors make comments and upset the new
ones.
- Many of our volunteers for meal transportation got bored.
Providers Who View RSVP as Potentially
Helpful
The following 18 providers indicated that they view RSVP as
potentially helpful:
- Addus Healthcare
- Alternatives for the Older Adult
- American Red Cross
- Bureau County Seniors
- Community Hospital of Ottawa
- Good Life Inc./Visiting Angels
- Henderson County Health Department Respite
- Henderson County Health Department
- Henry County Health Department
- Home Instead Senior Care
- Lamoine Christian Nursing Home
- Lutheran Social Services of Illinois
- Mercer County Seniors
- Prairie State Legal Services
- Putnam County Achievement
- Rock Island Senior Center/Project NOW
- Strom Center
- VNA Community Services
Providers Who Requested Additional
Information re: RSVP
The following 17 providers requested additional information
re: RSVP:
- American Red Cross
- Bureau County Seniors
- Community Hospital of Ottawa
- Good Life Inc./Visiting Angels
- Henderson County Health Department Respite
- Henderson County Health Department
- Henry County Health Department
- Henry County Seniors
- Home Instead Senior Care
- Knox County Nursing Home
- Lamoine Christian Nursing Home
- Lutheran Social Services of Illinois
- Mercer County Seniors
- Prairie State Legal Services
- Putnam County Achievement
- Rock Island County Senior Center/Project NOW
- VNA Community Services
Providers Who Requested Assistance from
RSVP
The following 16 providers requested assistance from RSVP:
- Alternatives for the Older Adult
- American Red Cross
- Bureau County Seniors
- Community Hospital of Ottawa
- Good Life Inc./Visiting Angels
- Henderson County Health Department
- Henry County Seniors
- Home Instead Senior Care
- Knox County Nursing Home
- Lamoine Christian Nursing Home
- Lutheran Social Services of Illinois
- Mercer County Seniors
- Prairie State Legal Services
- Putnam County Achievement
- Rock Island Senior Center/Project NOW
- Strom Center
Areas in which these providers thought that RSVP might be
of assistance included:
Assisting providers in:
(4) Developing
volunteer tasks
(6) Developing
volunteer job descriptions
(13) Recruitment of
volunteers
(8) Conducting the
initial interview of prospective volunteers,
determining skills
and interest
(6) Developing
training materials for volunteers
(5) Developing
volunteer-retention strategies
(6) Developing
volunteer-recognition activities
(2) Other (e.g.,
funding for incentives such as mileage reimbursement)
Providing volunteers with:
(17) Mileage
reimbursement (up to $15 per month)
(10) Supplemental
insurance
(0) Other
Other Comments, Questions or Suggestions
The following additional comments, questions or suggestions
were provided by 12 providers:
- We are a small population in a large geographic area.
- Sometimes we have people inquire about help with transport to doctor
appointments, therapy, treatments, etc.
- Depends on how much work and record keeping for a way too busy staff.
- Supplemental insurance – need more information.
- RSVP not available in Knox County.
- Will it [RSVP] ever be expanded to new sites?
- We do our own recruitment of volunteers.
- We need volunteers to assist with or lead programs, also to go on
outings.
- We do well with volunteers. I don’t feel there is a need at this
time for additional assistance.
- I’m not sure here at the center would do training. They are too set
in their ways. It’s hard enough for them to work together as a team.
?Not too good
- Please consider making home-delivered meal delivery a higher priority
in placing volunteers. It is such a necessary program and relies
extensively on volunteers.
- [Add to #2] No numbers – shows service of Activities leaders,
transportation, congregate meals, HDM’s [home-delivered meals] and
health.
-
Agency Plan Based on Assessment Findings
Based on these responses from WIAAA-funded providers, the RSVP
program director or recruitment specialist, the WIAAA planner, and a member of
the WIAAA Programs staff will meet with each of the providers who has
requested assistance from the RSVP program. Following these meetings, RSVP
staff will develop a work plan, timelines and budget, discuss these with WIAAA
management, and seek funding, as necessary, to provide additional assistance
to the funded providers.
The WIAAA-sponsored RSVP staff and other WIAAA staff, as
appropriate, will work throughout 2005 with each of the providers who
requested assistance, providing technical assistance in developing volunteer
tasks and job descriptions; developing recruitment plans; conducting the
initial interview and determining prospective volunteers’ skills and
interest; developing volunteer-retention strategies; and developing
volunteer-recognition activities.
The RSVP Program Director will provide monthly update reports
regarding this initiative.
