Needed: REAL Caring Volunteers

“When you’re doing the right thing, you don’t think about it… you just do it!”  That is the mantra of Trina Detwiler, Guardian Volunteer Advocate (GVA) for REAL Services’ Adult Guardianship Program. 

The Adult Guardianship Program of REAL Services protects elderly people over the age of 60 with Alzheimer's disease or other mental incapacitation.  When the courts grant guardianship to REAL Services, they know that the client will be protected, his or her finances will be administered appropriately, and the client will receive necessary medical care and safe housing to meet their medical needs. The program has served St. Joseph County since 1994 and expanded to Marshall County in 2008, Elkhart County in 2010, and Kosciusko County within the past  year.

Detwiler has volunteered as a GVA for 6 years.  Her first assignment was a woman who became an important part of Detwiler’s family.  “I was so blessed to have her in my life,” Detwiler explains.  Her husband also became attached to the client who always looked forward to their visits.  When she passed away, it was a loss for the whole Detwiler family.

Now Detwiler has two other clients, a man and a woman.  The woman’s sister had taken care of her for as long as she was able, but age and health issues required her to give up the responsibilities.  So she looked to REAL Services to take over as guardian, knowing she was doing the best thing for the well-being of her sister. 

“I do it because I want to,” is the simple answer as to why Detwiler volunteers.  In 2015, she was selected to receive the Professional of the Year Award given at REAL Services’ annual Age of Excellence luncheon.  Few people are as dedicated to the safety, dignity and comfort of the individuals they serve, as well as to volunteerism to their community at-large, as Detwiler, who has worked for 18 years at Cardinal Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

GVAs, like Detwiler, improve the overall effectiveness of the program in serving this vulnerable population. These dedicated volunteers help to ensure the client’s needs are being met and they are receiving social interaction.  They visit with the client at least twice a month and develop a relationship with them.  It is a serious volunteer position with serious responsibilities. GVAs are involved for the duration of the protected person's life.

They are supported by the staff at REAL Services, who provide quarterly training sessions for them.  GVAs work closely with REAL Services staff to monitor unmet needs and changing conditions of the clients.  This allows the staff to work on more urgent and pressing guardianship matters with the knowledge that the day to day issues of the client are being handled.

There is a critical need for more volunteers in the Adult Guardianship Program.  Currently there are 21 Guardianship Volunteer Advocates who are assigned to one or more client.  However, REAL Services still has 16 clients who do not have a Volunteer Advocate.  For more information about volunteering to help this vulnerable population, call 574-284-7138 or email allen2@realservices.org.

“Just do it!” is the advice Detwiler would give to someone considering becoming a Guardianship Volunteer Advocate, “If it is on your mind and in your heart, just do it!”