The Volunteer Services Coordinator
The Volunteer Services Coordinator recruits, develops and produces orientation and training materials for volunteers. In some programs training is done by the State of Iowa. We recruit and train volunteer advocates in all eight counties of southwest Iowa to help seniors with their needs.

The Senior Advocates offer rides to the senior centers and doctors, nursing home visits, friendly telephone calls, and cheerful cards. Many of the Senior Advocates attend the meal sites at the senior centers in our eight county area. We orient senior center managers regarding advocacy issues.

Volunteers of the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) to help seniors find answers to questions on Medicare, Medicare Supplement insurance, long-term care insurance and other health insurance questions that would suit their needs best. Our volunteers help you understand your Medicare benefits and rights, organize your medical bills, Medicare statements and file claims.

We have an active group of elected volunteers in the Older Iowans Legislature (OIL) who actively advocate for the senior issues before the legislature. They keep informed of any legislation that is needed by the seniors to make their life better. They also keep the legislators informed of vital senior need. Senior voting is very important in the State of Iowa if seniors are to keep their benefits.

Advocacy in Action volunteers serve as the advocate for seniors by monitoring, evaluating and commenting upon all policies, programs, hearings, levies and community actions which will affect older individuals. This is a chance to present your views as a private citizen.

The Resident Advocate Committee are volunteers who assess resident care and quality of life in the long-term care facilities and help resolve issues and concerns of the residents. They are welcome visitors for the residents. They suggest improvements in the nursing home, which is appreciated by the residents and the administration. Operation Restore Trust (ORT) is the reporting of Medicare fraud. Our objective is to increase public awareness and educate Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries of health care fraud. Volunteers are needed to provide public education, distribute media and promotional materials and make proper referrals. In the end, we all pay.

Southwest 8 Senior Services is apart of the Triad committee, which is a volunteer project between seniors and law enforcement. These volunteers distribute the "Vials of Life" to seniors in Pottawattamie County .These vials are placed in your freezer with health information to alert emergency medical staff of health problems and medications. This could save your life!

We volunteers in all these areas to help seniors have a quality of life in Iowa surpassed by none. Please call Jacque at 1-800-432-9209.