Get Help

TO ARRANGE FOR HELP

To arrange for help simply call our office. A staff person will talk with you to discuss your specific needs. If we think we can help you, we will ask a number of questions and fill out a "First Time Request" form with you over the phone. After that our volunteer coordinators will work hard to find a volunteer who can meet your needs. Depending on the type of help you need it may take anywhere from a few days to several months to arrange for services. It all depends on what types of volunteers we have available at any given time. While we cannot promise that we will find a volunteer to meet your needs, we will do our very best to help you.

When you call for the first time, if we don't think we can help you, or if we think you might be better served elsewhere, we will do our best to refer you to other agencies in the area that we think can help.


ELIGIBILITY

Generally, our volunteers serve individuals who meet all of the following criteria:

  • Persons who are 18 or older.

  • Persons who live in Macomb, Oakland & St. Clair Counties.

  • Persons who live in their own home or apartment, not in a nursing home or assisted living facility.

  • Persons who are unable to do the service they are requesting themselves because of a disability or general frailty.

  • Persons who are unable to get this kind of help through other means, such as paid help, other service programs, or help from family members.


SERVICES WE PROVIDE

In general, our services include:

  • Transportation for appointments, errands & social activities.

Volunteers provide door-to-door service, with minimal physical assistance, using their own vehicles.

  • Errands, shopping & deliveries

Pick up and delivery of items for persons unable to travel.

  • Minor home repairs.

Various minor repairs available. No licensed work or extensive repairs. Persons requesting help are responsible for supplies.

  • Indoor & outdoor chores.

Small routine chores or larger group projects available. Persons requesting help are responsible for supplies.

  • Housekeeping.

Routine light housekeeping or special larger projects.

  • Respite care.

Ongoing or occasional relief breaks for full-time family caregivers. No hands-on personal care such as dressing, bathing, feeding, etc. Volunteers are generally available for a maximum of a few hours once a week, although special arrangements can be made for longer one-time visits.

  • Friendly visits.

One-to-one matches with a volunteer for ongoing in-home visits and/or social outings for those who are otherwise lonely or isolated. Volunteers are generally available for a maximum of a few hours once a week.

  • Hair care for the homebound.

Haircuts, coloring, permanents, etc. for those who cannot get out for such services, provided by volunteers who are not licensed professionals.

We also consider other special requests and have groups of volunteers who can get together for larger projects.


SERVICES WE DO NOT PROVIDE

IVC is NOT a professional service, and we we do not provide home health care. Our volunteers are simply neighbors helping neighbors. The following are services we do NOT provide:

  • We do NOT provide home health care services, or stay with people overnight.

  • We do NOT have volunteers who will stay with people for more than a few hours, or for more than once a week, on a regular basis.

  • We do NOT provide any hands on care, such as bathing, dressing or feeding.

  • We do NOT dispense medications.

  • We do NOT lift people who cannot transfer themselves with minimal assistance.


OUR VOLUNTEERS

  • We recruit primarily through local congregations and civic organizations.

  • All volunteers are individually interviewed and submit two personal references.

  • We run criminal background checks on all our volunteers through the Michigan State Police.

  • All volunteers attend a basic orientation program before beginning their service with us.

  • Volunteer drivers are checked for a valid license and current automobile insurance as well as driving offenses.

To arrange for help, please call the IVC office at (586) 757-5551.