Baltimore County, MD Time of Your LIfe, 28 Feb 2019

Previous Meeting Next Meeting

⏯

youtube image

►

From YouTube: Home Team Program

Description

Danielle Singley, Program Manager, Baltimore County Department of Aging.

A

Welcome back to the time of your life., this segment, showcases baltimore county department of aging's, home team program., here to talk about this meaningful volunteer program and the services it provides, for baltimore county's, older adults, is danielle singley, program manager for the home team.

A

danielle,. Welcome to the show. hi, ethel,, I'm glad to be here..

A

Can you talk about the home team program as well as the services it provides to the community?

A

B

The home team program is a group of staff and volunteers.

B

Of the baltimore county department of aging that provides services, that is provided through title iii-b of the older americans, act.

B

There are two programs that we offer, the friendly visiting program and the food agent program..

B

The friendly visiting program provides friendly visits to home-bound seniors, age, 60 years or more,, who are socially isolated and without social support from family and friends..

B

Our volunteers provide one visit a week to help them remain independent in their homes..

B

Our friendly visiting program is also consisting.

B

Of telephone visits and telephone reassurance.

B

For those individuals to also have that social engagement piece, so that they can remain active in the community and connected., our food agent program is slightly different.

B

We serve home-bound seniors that are food, insecure.

B

We have 30 partnering pantries throughout baltimore county that our volunteers,.

B

Will go to and pick up food, and take back to those seniors, so that they can have supplemental foods to help them last,.

B

So they can have food to last them throughout the month.

B

so,. That program is also to help them remain independent in their homes.

A

What valuable programs,, who can make a referral for these services?.

B

You can become a recipient of our food agent.

B

Or friendly visiting services, one of two ways.

B

You can either apply through our program yourself,.

B

Or you can be referred from a case manager.

B

we partner with various different agencies throughout baltimore county,, including the department of social services and department of health.

B

We accept case manager, referrals from our community outreach, specialists, the map office, and as well as many hospitals and partnering community organizations..

A

And what are the volunteer requirements for the program?

A

so, to become a volunteer,.

B

You have to be at least 18 years of age or more..

B

You have to complete our vetting process,, and that includes an application,, a background. Check, an interview, and orientation.

B

And why is volunteering important?

B

well, to me,? Volunteering is very important, because we have such a good group of people.

B

That provide services to our seniors.

B

It is important for those people to feel connected in the community, and we depend on volunteers who are very passionate.

B

And compassionate about helping people in the community.

B

There are health benefits to yourself.

B

And to the people that you're serving.

B

I'm someone that has been volunteering in the community since I was very young, and it's also very good for young people to learn about what interests in life that they may have, and it might help them focus their area of interest in certain specific, important areas..

B

For people that are older,, it actually combats social isolation as well,, and that is our bcda initiative. This year.

B

So,, I definitely am a huge proponent of volunteerism,. Definitely support that.

A

So,, if someone at home would like to learn more about the program or would like to volunteer, who can they call?, they can call the home team office at 410-887-4141,.

B

Or they can email hometeam@baltimorecountymd.gov.

A

Wonderful, danielle, thank you for coming and sharing important information about these great programs.

A

thank you, ethel. we're going to take a short break. when we return,. We will conclude today's show with exciting news about travel, senior box office.

A

And what's happening at your local senior center.

A

(upbeat music).