A Helping Hand Inc

Programs: First accomplishment mobility. Who is served: ahh is unique to the triangle and serves 308 clients annually providing homecare, door-through-door transportation, information and referral, and advocacy. The average age of clients served is 80. Our agency operates on a sliding fee scale. More than 40 percent of our current clients are unable to pay a cost-share and depend on volunteers or donations to fund services. Those needing volunteer services generally have no family support and are struggling at incomes at, or less than 150 percent of the poverty level. Ahh also provides volunteer support to tired family caregivers in need of time to rejuvenate. In addition, we organize volunteers from faith communities and civic organizations to help with yard work. Objectives of the program: ahh provides the following to underserved older adults and individuals with disabilities: a) access to health care, b) escorted transportation for shopping, running errands, or other needs, c) safe home environment, d) respite for caregivers, e) quality of life interaction and opportunity to maintain independence. At the same time, we are educating future health care providers on the challenges faced by older adults and, hopefully, inspiring more careers in geriatrics. Ahh's pre-health service learning program is our greatest resource for serving those who cannot afford the help they desperately need. Unpaid interns agree to attend 30 hours of training in geriatric care and volunteer 120 hours with clients. Despite the economy, we have three times as many pre-medicine, nursing, social work, psychology, o/t, p/t, and public health students seeking unpaid internships than we can accomodate. Last year, we sponsored three intern classes (fall, spring and summer) and 86 clients were served by the pre-health interns, who contributed approximately 7,250 volunteer hours. They provided transportation to outpatient surgery, routine medical appointments, helped with errands and in-home assistance. Funding: we are seeking new partnerships with pharmaceutical companies and drug stores, as well as other rtp businesses that are thriving. In addition, we are training students to make presentations in the community in order to reach more possible donors. Earned income through the private pay program continues to increase as more satisfied clients refer friends to ahh.