Community Caregivers is an organization made up of over 450 volunteer neighbors who lend a hand when no one else is available. Volunteers are involved in helping and caring for older neighbors, people with chronic illness, single and teen parents, and caregivers who need respite.
Community Caregivers provides services that enable individuals of all ages to maintain their independence, dignity and quality of life within their homes and communities. Whenever possible, we offer non-medical assistance to local residents so that they can avoid hospitalization or institutionalization. We also help family members and friends cope with the challenges of long-term caregiving.
We serve residents of Albany County, New York, including the Towns of Berne, Bethlehem, Guilderland, Knox and New Scotland. As of 2012, we also provide services in the City of Albany.
Community Caregivers services are funded entirely by donations, charitable gifts, grants, and fundraising activities. They are delivered by unpaid volunteers or paid staff members. Here are some ways in which Community Caregivers helps:
Transportation: Driving disabled, elderly, and non-driving persons to and from medical/therapy appointments, visits to family in nursing homes and other essential activities. Clients can have up to 2 rides a week and must give 10 days’ notice when making a transportation request.
Shopping: Either accompanying a client who needs assistance to shop — or doing the shopping — for food, prescriptions, and personal items.
Caregiver Respite: Providing an attentive presence for a care receiver that will allow individuals and families who care for someone with an illness or disability to enjoy a break from their caregiving responsibilities. Our volunteers will visit, talk, read, and do crafts. We are unable to provide medical or “hands-on” care. Respite is usually once a week for 2 to 3 hours.
Meal Preparation/Delivery: Preparing simple meals for individuals and families temporarily unable to provide for themselves, and/or delivering food from local pantries.
Light Housekeeping: Dusting, vacuuming, and straightening up as needed. Housekeeping may be scheduled weekly, biweekly, or monthly. Scrubbing floors and bathrooms is not included.
Chores: Carrying packages, trimming hedges, mowing lawns, organizing closets and unpacking boxes.
Assistance with Paperwork: Helping persons who are visually impaired or have physical limitations with sorting mail, organizing bills, and completing forms. Volunteers do not write or sign checks or act as Power of Attorney.
Referrals to Other Agencies and Services: Providing information about services available in the area, and/or making direct referrals to appropriate agencies. See list of links to other agency websites
Visitation: Weekly or biweekly visits to provide a physical presence for social contact and emotional/psychological support.
Telephone Assurance: Brief contact by telephone to check on an individual’s wellbeing and to provide social and emotional support.