Advocacy and Mentoring

Knowledgeable volunteer staff personally assists seniors to access information pertaining to their individual struggles and health concerns associated with aging or disability. The CSI Information and Referral Services provide personal one-on-one assistance to seniors who need additional help obtaining the information they are seeking. In some situations this results in a referral to the appropriate community or government organization or health care professional.

Providing seniors with information about the appropriate organization is often just the first step. Although many organizations and government agencies do provide specific information about seniors’ programs and services, it is difficult for many seniors to navigate through voice messages, access codes, and voice prompts that are ill-designed for people who have trouble hearing or concentrating.

Many senior citizens have difficulty finding information or accessing services due to confusion with an automated telephone system or impatient or uncooperative program or service representatives. When required, CSI volunteers provide the assistance required to resolve the problem, including joining in on a telephone call and helping to navigate past the point of difficulty.