A Mercy Care Health Care Companion Volunteer will help to strengthen the social safety network by helping older adults in the Adirondacks navigate complex social care and healthcare systems to access health, aging, and community services.
The Health Care Companion is a specially trained Mercy Care Volunteer who accompanies an elder on their health care journey. They are a listening presence, a compassionate friend, and are often thought of in terms of what a friend or family might do if they were available to help their loved one access, comply with, and more fully understand their health care.
The Health Care Companion Volunteer will help facilitate access to health care through a model of informal social care supports including transportation to medical, therapy, and lab appointments, as well as to grocery stores, and other “errands of mercy.” With the elder’s permission, the Health Care Companion might accompany an elder to medical appointments to be another set of ears, help schedule and facilitate medical and therapy appointments, and pick up their prescriptions.
Complete and submit form to Register for the March 4th Health Care Companion Volunteer Training at Heaven Hill Farm in Lake Placid.
