A HELPING HAND C/O CAROL WOODS

FIRST ACCOMPLISHMENT MOBILITY.WHO IS SERVED: AHH IS UNIQUE TO THE TRIANGLE, THE ONLY LOCALLY FOUNDED NON-PROFIT HOME CARE AGENCY IN THE AREA. WE SERVE AROUND 300 CLIENTS ANNUALLY PROVIDING HANDS-ON HOMECARE, COMPANIONSHIP, DOOR-THROUGH-DOOR TRANSPORTATION, INFORMATION, AND ADVOCACY. THE AVERAGE AGE OF CLIENTS SERVED IS 75. APPROXIMATELY 26 PERCENT OF OUR CURRENT CLIENTS ARE UNABLE TO PAY A COST-SHARE AND DEPEND ON VOLUNTEERS OR DONATIONS TO FUND SERVICES. THOSE NEEDING VOLUNTEER SERVICES GENERALLY HAVE NO FAMILY SUPPORT AND ARE STRUGGLING AT INCOMES AT, OR LESS THAN 150 PERCENT OF THE POVERTY LEVEL. AHH ALSO PROVIDES VOLUNTEER SUPPORT TO TIRED FAMILY CAREGIVERS IN NEED OF TIME TO REJUVENATE. IN ADDITION, WE PARTNER WITH LOCAL FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL AS OTHER AGENCIES WITHIN THE SENIOR CARE SAFETY NET.OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM: AHH PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING TO UNDERSERVED OLDER ADULTS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES: A) ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, B) ESCORTED TRANSPORTATION FOR SHOPPING, RUNNING ERRANDS, OR OTHER NEEDS, C) SAFE HOME ENVIRONMENT, D) RESPITE FOR CAREGIVERS, E) QUALITY OF LIFE INTERACTION AND OPPORTUNITY TO MAINTAIN INDEPENDENCE. AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE EDUCATING FUTURE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS ON THE CHALLENGES FACED BY OLDER ADULTS AND, HOPEFULLY, INSPIRING MORE CAREERS IN GERIATRICS. AHH'S PRE-HEALTH SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAM IS OUR GREATEST RESOURCE FOR SERVING THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD THE HELP THEY DESPERATELY NEED. UNPAID INTERNS AGREE TO ATTEND 20 HOURS OF TRAINING IN GERIATRIC CARE AND VOLUNTEER 120 HOURS WITH CLIENTS. DESPITE THE ECONOMY, WE HAVE THREE TIMES AS MANY PRE-MEDICINE, NURSING, SOCIAL WORK, PSYCHOLOGY, O/T, P/T, AND PUBLIC HEALTH STUDENTS SEEKING UNPAID INTERNSHIPS THAN WE CAN ACCOMMODATE. LAST YEAR, WE SPONSORED TWO INTERN CLASSES (FALL, SPRING AND SUMMER) AND 77 CLIENTS WERE SERVED BY THE PRE-HEALTH INTERNS, WHO CONTRIBUTED APPROXIMATELY 1,200 VOLUNTEER HOURS. THEY PROVIDED TRANSPORTATION TO OUTPATIENT SURGERY, ROUTINE MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, HELPED WITH ERRANDS AND IN-HOME ASSISTANCE.FUNDING: WE ARE SEEKING NEW PARTNERSHIPS WITH FOUNDATIONS INTERESTED IN WORKFORCE ENHANCEMENT, PERSON-CENTERED TRAINING FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS AND THOSE WITH A PASSION FOR MAKING COMMUNITIES AGE AND DEMENTIA FRIENDLY, AS WELL AS OTHER RTP BUSINESSES THAT ARE INTERESTED IN INCUBATING SOCIAL ENTERPRISE MODELS FOCUSED ON SENIOR CARE. IN ADDITION, WE ARE TRAINING STUDENTS TO MAKE PRESENTATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO REACH MORE POSSIBLE DONORS. EARNED INCOME THROUGH THE PRIVATE PAY PROGRAM CONTINUES TO INCREASE AS WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH CAROL WOODS TO PROVIDE HANDS-ON HOMECARE.