CROWN POINT – Franciscan Health’s partnership with the Lake County Courts to provide volunteer advocates for elderly and incapacitated adults unable to represent themselves now has three new members.
Lake Superior Court Probate Commissioner Ben Ballou swore in a class of three Volunteer Advocates for Seniors and Incapacitated Adults (VASIA) during a ceremony last month. The new advocates are LaFayette Boone of Crown Point, Steven Bowling of Portage and Dr. Celeste McGill of Chicago.
The courts collaborate with Franciscan Health to provide trained, supervised volunteers as court-appointed agents to assist elderly and incapacitated adults. The program, now in its 22nd year, partners with programs serving elderly and incapacitated adults across Lake County to develop a continuum of elder law advocacy and guardianship services.
Volunteers are vetted through an application screening process. Once approved, volunteers must complete 40 hours of initial training and 12 hours of continuing education annually by legal, social service, health and mental health experts. Advocates serve as guardians on one case at a time.
“You’re joining a family of very talented and special people,” said VASIA Director LaVonne Jarrett, hired as the program coordinator for the blossoming Volunteer Advocates for Seniors (VAS) program in 2007.
“I was hired for my experience in working with the senior population. I had acquired this experience by managing and growing a senior retirement program for intellectually delayed adults for four cities,” she said. “I thought this to be one of the most attractive things about the job. VAS saw the need for advocacy across the social status board.”
Jarret feels blessed to see the expansion of services expand the age limit from 55 and over to age 18. In the Intellectually delayed community, it was common to see the need for advocacy at early ages. This is where VAS-Volunteer Advocates for Seniors became VASIA-Volunteer Advocates for Seniors and Incapacitated Adults.
“Another feature of the program that was so great to me was and is that community volunteers are the main decision-makers for these clients that receive services from the program,” she said. “It was phenomenal to me that a volunteer would take the time and effort to learn about this client and then make decisions in the best interest and safety of the client.”
According to Jarret, a volunteer advocate must be objective, understand the client’s needs and be willing to learn.
“Many of our volunteers are retired professionals and many of them can tell you that in VASIA, you’re always learning,” she said. “A good volunteer knows when to step back. The work itself can be very demanding and getting overwhelmed compromises decision making.”
While watching new advocates get sworn in, Jarret said she often thinks about the talents they will bring to the program.
“I love being able to have the program benefit from the various skills and abilities of our volunteers. Some are social workers, nurses, lawyers, caregivers, business owners, bankers, crafters etc. God always sends us what we need.”
During the swearing-in ceremony on March 11, Lake Superior Court Judge Bruce Parent said the volunteers are, “doing God’s work.”
“God sees all and His light is shining upon you all,” Parent said. “We very much appreciate you.”
VASIA Volunteer Coordinator Francisca Mendoza read a quote from Mother Theresa during the swearing-in ceremony: “Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.”
“You will see the dying,” Mendoza said. “You will see the poor and you’ll see the unwanted, by society and their families, but you will become an extension of the family. They’ll look forward to your visits.”
Boone is retired from the U.S. Navy and served as a nurse for 27 years. She said she’s been an advocate for her patients for years and now will be able to advocate in a new way in her community. “I just like to be of service,” she said.
McGill, a City Colleges of Chicago college educator, said she started her career as a home health social worker. “I don’t think anyone’s socio-economic status should determine the kind of care, services and support they need and deserve,” McGill said.
Bowling is a barber and goes to nursing homes to cut residents’ hair free of charge. “To get a blessing, you’ve got to be a blessing,” Bowling said. “I just like to make others happy.”
The VASIA program is partially funded by grants from the Indiana Supreme Court, Legacy Foundation, Inc. and other local, state and national funders as well as individual donors.
The VASIA program will be sponsoring a Brunch and Learn event “Navigating the New Insurance Age” on Friday, April 26 at the Marian Education Center on the former Franciscan Health Crown Point hospital campus at 1201 Main St., and a “Get Your Game On” annual fundraiser on Sept. 5 at Up Your Alley in Schererville. To RSVP or for more information contact Joyce Zavalla Calderon at 407-6762 or email Joyce.ZavalaCalderon@franciscanalliance.org.
To donate in support of VASIA visit FranciscanHealthFoundation.org. To learn more about the program and how to become a volunteer, visit franciscanhealth.org/VASIA.
Caption: Franciscan Health’s Volunteer Advocates for Seniors and Incapacitated Adults (VASIA) swore in new volunteers Dr. Celeste McGill, LaFayetta Boone and Steven Bowling in March. (Provided photo)