Mercy Care hosts volunteer program and technology assistance workshop

As health care and senior assistance becomes more challenging to access, Mercy Care for the Adirondacks is offering a new volunteer program and workshop to better support the region’s elderly population.

Health Care Companion volunteer program

Mercy Care is recruiting volunteers to participate in its inaugural Health Care Companion Volunteer Training Program. Mercy Care has more than 100 Friendship Volunteers available to assist more than 200 elder neighbors in the Tri-Lakes region with errands of mercy.

The Health Care Companion Volunteer helps to strengthen social safety networks by helping older adults in the Adirondacks manage complex social and healthcare systems to access health, aging and community services. A volunteer is a listening presence, a compassionate friend and is 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 volunteer does not provide hands-on health care or medical advice but assists their elder friend to access and manage their healthcare needs either in-person, virtually or by telephone.

Volunteer training will be held at 9 a.m. on March 4 at Heaven Hill Farm. A complimentary lunch will be served. There is no cost for the training, but registration is required. 

Technology assistance workshop

Mercy Care will also host a technology assistance workshop open to all older adult community members from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26 at BOCES Adirondack Educational Center in Saranac Lake.

Mercy Care is scaling up its programs to encourages seniors to have access to a digital devices and provide instruction on usage through its iPad permanent loan program. Roberta Bryson of NBT Bank will offer a presentation about online banking management, navigating the online portal and fraud protection. There will be an opportunity for personalized one-on-one assistance with cell phones and tablets.

Mercy Care’s Technology Workshop and iPad Permanent Loan Programs are offered free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is required. 

To request more information or to register for either the volunteer training or the workshop, visit adkmercy.org or contact Lexi Bevilacqua, director of programs and mission integration, at [email protected] or at 518-523-5446.