Jun 16, 2020

These have certainly been trying times for all of us.  We are so grateful to all of our amazing volunteers for staying the course, ensuring that the Volunteer Guardian Program remains the success that it is!  Never could we have imagined such an over-arching impact of a pandemic, especially to long-term care facilities and group homes.  But, because of YOU, our committed volunteers, wards in Summit County continue to receive the proper care and advocacy that they need so badly.

We have already begun to see changes moving us forward.  For example, doctors are now able to see patients for routine matters.  Also, many facilities are beginning to allow outside visits by appointment for short periods of time. In time, we anticipate some type of visitation to be allowed for nursing homes, too. 

The need for guardian services has remained through the pandemic.  Now, we also anticipate an influx of new ward referrals, especially those identified by the expansion of physician and hospital services that had been put on hold.  Now is the time for us to prepare! 

Fortunately, we are able to resume our new volunteer training program.  This training will be one-on-one with accommodations for social distancing. 

Our volunteers are our greatest ambassadors for the program!  If you know of anyone who would be interested in volunteering now or in the near future, please ask them to call Julie Falter at (330) 703-5970 or email her at vgpsummit@gmail.com.  We want to ensure that our Summit County residents in need of our vital guardian services are met!