Help!

I fell down a stair well last week and injured my shoulder, hand and both knees to the extent that I must have surgery. It is a scary proposition--no driving for a month afterwards and as much as five months of difficult physical therapy and recovery.

Family and friends have offered their prayers and their help. It is gratifying and allieviates the fear of handling this alone, but it makes me think of those in life who must handle struggles like this without support and without resources to hire help.

Pride is also an issue. I am very independent and enjoy handling challenges myself, but this one has taught me that sometimes we are at the mercy of our situation, and the kindness of others is truly a gift that we should be gracious to accept with great gratitude.

Sometimes people don't know where to go for help especially for the aged who may have dropped out of activites, stopped going to church and are confined to their homes.

"The National Volunteer Caregiving Network (NVCN) is a membership network of local community volunteer caregiving programs, regional and state collaboratives, and individuals who support the work of volunteer caregiving. Membership is open to any organization or individual who believes they can benefit from the National Volunteer Caregiving Network.

The purpose of the National Network is to promote the sharing of knowledge, experience and ideas that can help to strengthen and support the hundreds of local volunteer caregiving programs that are currently active throughout the United States, and to foster and support the establishment of new interfaith volunteer caregiving programs in all communities that want and need the services that volunteer caregivers can provide. Local volunteer caregiving programs bring volunteers of different faiths together to care for their homebound neighbors who may be isolated and living with chronic health conditions or disabilities.

These volunteers come from churches, synagogues, and other houses of worship, as well as from the community at large, and provide many forms of non-medical assistance, such as:

•Transportation to medical and other appointments
•Help with shopping, reading or bill-paying
•Minor home repairs
•Light housekeeping or meal preparation
•Friendly visiting and telephone support
•Respite care for family caregivers

Such simple services can provide the safety net that makes it possible for those with disabling health conditions or other limitations to enjoy a better quality of life and to maintain their independence.  The Faith in Action program initiative began in 1983 with support from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and today there are more than 600 local programs operating in communities across the nation. You may search by state to find a program in your area. If there is not a volunteer caregiving program in your area and you are interested in starting one, please contact the National Volunteer Caregiving Network by calling the toll-free number at 304-907-0428 or by email at info@nvcnetwork.org.

General Inquiries: Kelly, Administrative Assistant E-mail: kelly@nvcnetwork.
Executive Director, Rhonda Anderson E-mail: randerson@nvcnetwork.org 
Mail: National Volunteer Caregiving Network, 1359 National Road, Wheeling, WV 26003

“When family members and health care providers cannot fill the daily needs of a member of the community, the Faith in Action volunteer fills the gaps. Most belief systems include a mandate to help others. Faith in Action connects neighbors in need with those who want to make a difference.”