Getting Involved ~ Frequently Asked Questions
1. Q. What does LITA do?
2. Q. Who can volunteer for LITA?
3. Q. What do I need to do to sign up?
4. Q. What is the time commitment?
5. Q. Where are the facilities?
6. Q. Can my pet be a visitor also? What kind of pets are well suited for LITA?
7. Q. Do I have to have any particular skills to volunteer for LITA?
8. Q. How old do I have to be to visit?
9. Q. Will I have to be around sick people?
10. Q. What is the matching process?
11. Q. How long does it take to be matched?
12. Q. How do I start visiting?
13. Q. What type of follow-up is there after the initial match?
14. Q. What if I have difficulty thinking of things to talk about?
15. Q. What if I don’t like my match?
16. Q. If I can’t make a weekly commitment, can I still help LITA?
17. Q. Does LITA visit in private homes?
1. A. LITA visits people in long-term care settings who have few or no outside visitors or family contact.
2. A. Individual adults, families and youth visitors (individually if over the age of 16) may volunteer for LITA. Well behaved pets are also welcome!
3. A. Call our office Monday – Friday between 10 am and 2 pm to set up an appointment. There is an orientation and some paperwork to be filled out that takes about an hour.
4. A. We ask that you consider this a long term commitment, hopefully for the life time of your friend. A consistent visit of 30 minutes once a week is the minimum. You may visit most people any day of the week. The best time of day in most long-term care settings is 10 am - noon or 1 - 5 pm.
5. A. There are over 45 facilities that we visit across Marin County including active retirement homes, assisted living, skilled nursing, and small board and care facilities. There is sure to be a facility near your home or work where someone is waiting for a friend.
6. A. Dogs need not be certified for pet therapy, but they must have good basic obedience, and sound temperament. We ask that you bring them to our office for an evaluation. Occasionally we are fortunate to find a willing cat visitor, which is rare, but very much appreciated by residents who have left their kitties behind. LITA even has one visiting hen, who sits on a pillow for petting! All pet visitors must have up to date vaccination certificates and be well groomed.
7. A. The same qualities that make you a good friend to someone your own age will make you a good LITA friend. Good listening skills, compassion, humor and loyalty are valued by everyone.
8. A. Entire families sometimes visit with children of all ages. Some family support is required for children younger than 16 to visit. LITA also has a program called Bridging Generations that connects elementary school classrooms of children to facilities, enhancing their intergenerational activity programs.
9. A. Of course everyone who leaves their homes does so because they need more assistance and support physically and/or cognitively. Some people do not require medical support and are in assisted living or board and care settings. Others are in skilled nursing facilities as they require a higher level of care. You will be given a choice to visit in a facility where you are comfortable.
10. A. The resident is interviewed as well as the volunteer. Some people are matched based on common interests, but often personality, location and the time you are available to visit are also considered. Matches are usually successful, but occasionally people do not acclimate to each other and we are happy to rematch both parties if we are aware of the situation.
11. A. Depending on your flexibility of schedule, location and type of resident you are willing to visit, two weeks to several months. Sometimes it is worth waiting for a comfortable match.
12. A. The LITA Director of Volunteers will accompany you at your first visit and introduce
you to the resident and if possible the activity or social service director at the facility.
You will be given a brief tour of common areas such as activity room, libraries and
patio/garden areas. After that you will determine your own schedule.
13. A. About two weeks after you start visiting, the LITA Director of Volunteers will check in to see how your independent visits are going. This is a great time to bring up questions or concerns. After the first three months, we ask that you call us if you have any updates or changes. We will send newsletters two times yearly and make a yearly phone call to update our records. We are always happy to talk with you about your LITA experience.
14. A. This is seldom a problem. Everyone has stories to tell from the past as well as opinions about the present. Amusing stories from the news, local current events and pictures are also great conversation starters.
15. A. Sometimes it takes time for a resident who is depressed and withdrawn to respond. Some residents warm up quickly and some reveal themselves slowly. There is great variation and we do our best to match you with someone you are comfortable with. If you do not feel you are progressing after several visits, please call us. We are happy to re-match you and re-match the resident to another volunteer. Your feedback is important.
16. A. Sometimes there are holiday projects, newsletters and office support that require only a brief commitment of your time. We are happy to add your name to our special occasion list. We are also grateful for any donations we receive to help us carry out our mission.
17. A. LITA focuses its efforts on group facilities. Visits in private homes carry numerous legal and logistical requirements that are beyond our scope. LITA volunteers are fighting loneliness in our community every day. If you’ve got 30 minutes and a little love, contact us today – you are the perfect candidate!