Volunteer caregivers needed: Help others and feel purpose
Helen Kellerman understands the importance of volunteering and the positive impact it can have on the older adults she supports.
As a volunteer caregiver for Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, she visits Tom for a few hours a week to provide Maggie, Tom’s wife and caregiver, with a break from the daily demands of caregiving.
“I am grateful to have Helen come so I can get away for a short time,” Maggie said. Helen and Tom enjoy conversation and watching TV during their visit together, while Maggie runs errands, attends appointments, and spends time with friends.
Providing support for loved ones with chronic health conditions often requires unrelenting round-the-clock care that can leave caregivers exhausted and emotionally depleted. A short, four-hour break for a caregiver each week can make all the difference to their mental health and well-being.
November is National Family Caregiver’s month — a time dedicated to recognizing the hard work and quiet care that family caregivers offer to their loved ones and friends.
Caregivers who provide 24/7 caregiving can quickly find themselves overwhelmed by care needs and are at greater risk for burnout that can impact a person’s ability to care for their loved ones because they are unable to take care of themselves. In the U.S., caregivers are on the rise. Today, 53 million individuals, or one in five citizens, serve as informal caregivers, up from 43 million individuals in 2015, according to the Center for Disease Control.
To meet the increasing need to support caregivers to ensure they maintain good health, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota is seeking volunteer caregivers to provide a much-needed break to relax, re-charge, practice self-care, and maintain social connections.
While Helen can see the direct difference she makes in the lives of others as a volunteer caregiver, her life is changed, too. “Volunteering gives me purpose and the satisfaction of helping others,” she said.
LSS caregiver volunteers visit older adults in their homes for a few hours each week. Volunteers share their skills, meet new people, and enjoy doing puzzles or playing games with others. They can also be matched with someone who shares their interests.
Training is provided and no prior experience is necessary. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old, with availability each week, have reliable transportation and pass a background check.
The statewide organization serves all Minnesotans and welcomes volunteers from different faith communities, ethnic backgrounds, genders, and stages in life to inquire. To learn more or to get started as a volunteer, please contact Program Director Neal Hines at 866.787.9802, neal.hines@lssmn.org or visit lssmn.org/volunteer/caregiver.