WHAT IS A CARE TEAM?
Care Teams consist of 4-6 volunteers from local faith
communities, corporations, other small and large businesses and interested individuals. These 4-6 volunteers are matched with
an individual (Care Partner) needing non-medical care and support.
We believe a team can be more effective in helping a Care Partner than one person. The unique aspect of the care team process is that the workload
is shared throughout the team.
Click here to see and read
about one of our care teams.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS OF A CARE
TEAM VOLUNTEER?
- Attend a one time 3 hour training session
- Our trainings may be held at a volunteer’s
place of business, at The Care Communities office, at a faith community or at an individuals house.
- These trainings teach Care Team basics, psychosocial and other aspects of AIDS and cancer.
- Commit to only 4 hours per month
- After a commitment has been made, our Care Team
Coordinator, Christina Camacho, will discuss placement
on a team, make introductions, and then the volunteer will
begin a remarkable journey in making an incredible
difference in the life of someone who is seriously
ill.
- Report all volunteer hours spent with the care partner, including travel, and ALL communication with
the Care Team or staff. See the “Report Hours” button
on the Home page of the website.
Listed below are Typical Care Team activities
included but are not limited to:
- Visiting the Care Partner wherever he/she might be – at
home, nursing home, hospital, or hospice facility.
- Phoning to socialize and assure the Care Partner that
someone cares and is checking on them.
- Providing transportation.
- Assisting with light housekeeping.
- Assisting with yard work.
- Helping with special projects (i.e., cleaning garage,
moving, gardening, etc.)
- Preparing and serving meals and eating together (frequently,
company during a meal increases a Care Partner’s
appetite.)
- Socializing by playing cards, watching a video together,
or going to a movie, mall, park, or a community event.
- Stay with Care Partner, giving primary caregiver a breal
to run errands, relax or go to a support group meeting.
- Providing supportive child services.
- Listening and allowing the Care Partner to laugh and
to cry without judgment.
- Providing pet care.
- But most importantly, The Care Communities Care Teams
provide a sense of love and care by being there for someone
who might otherwise feel isolated, alone and without community.
Please consider spending just a few hours a month as a care
team member. Your help will make a tremendous difference
in the life of someone who is facing cancer and AIDS.
WHAT IS A CARE PARTNER?
He or she is a person living with a serious illness,
such as cancer or AIDS who has applied and been accepted
into our Care Team program. Our Care Partners
range in age from 3 months to 101 years old. Most of
our care partners are unable to work; about 90% live at or
below the poverty line.
A Care Partner could be …
A single man who is living with AIDS or cancer, overwhelmed
by tasks such as grocery shopping, cleaning his home, and dealing
with constant pain, nausea, fatigue, loneliness, and depression.
A single mother of four who struggles with end-stage breast
cancer while trying to maintain a stable home for her children.
A gay couple that is HIV positive. One person is bed-ridden,
and one person is the caregiver. Both have
been ostracized by their families, and lost many of their friends
from AIDS.
HOW CAN I JOIN A CARE TEAM?
Contact Roger Temme, our Outreach
Coordinator at roger@thecarecommunities.org,
or call us at 512-459-5883. |
