Hearts and Hands OSC Nonprofit Program
Hearts and Hands is Busy!
In addition to providing home visiting companionship, the H&H Program is collaborating with Lahari to sponsor a series of community conversations about In-home and Long Term Care. Notes from our Nov. 1 meeting are posted on the OSC Aging on Orcas Blog. Click on “Conversations Notes” in the upper right corner. Home maintenance and repair emerged as a critical need in the OSC 2017 Aging in Place survey. On Nov. 13, H&H followed up with a focus group led by Lynnette Wood and John Slater. Information gathered will be used to propose a sustainable program to provide seniors access to home repair and maintenance services, so that they are able to live and age safely at home on Orcas. Visit the Helping Hands page to learn more! Looking ahead, we will be sponsoring a second Alzheimer’s disease class after New Year’s and recruiting more H&H volunteers at potlucks in Olga, Westsound and Deer Harbor. 
OSC Nonprofit Launches Rx Assistance Program: Meet John Slater!
I am so pleased to be living on Orcas and becoming a part of this wonderful community. While I have been visiting my retired parents here for over 20 years, I decided upon completion of my bachelor’s degree in Psychology just over two years ago to relocate to Orcas and help my parents continue to enjoy their idyllic life here for as long as possible. It is with this objective in mind that I began engaging with OSC - which happily has the same objective for all its members! It is a privilege to be part of OSC’s effort as coordinator of the Orcas Rx Assist Program created by Melissa Lowry last year. It is my desire for the Program to reach everyone on Orcas who is struggling with the high cost of their prescription medications. With the same level of trustworthiness and discretion that Melissa established, I want to help as many islanders as possible enjoy their lives here for as long as possible, too! If you would like to learn more about our services, please give me a call at: 360.888.0510.The Orcas Senior Center (OSC) Nonprofit is pleased to announce the start of a new program designed to help seniors who qualify obtain prescription medicines at reduced or no cost. The Rx Assist Program provides help finding, completing and submitting on-line applications to companies like GoodRX that provide medications at reduced costs. Although OSC provides assistance, it does not retain personal or medical information. Clients must submit the application (in paper or online) themselves. Most participating pharmacies are off-island, but several will ship some medications by mail. The program was piloted by Melissa Lowry during the summer of 2017. This year Melissa updated the program in preparation for its fall debut, serving 30 clients and saving them $24,605 in 2018. To find out more about the OSC’s Rx Assistance Program or to make an appointment, call John at 360.888.0510 or email John at orcasrxassist@gmail.com Sessions are private and confidential. The program offers regular office hours on Tuesdays in the Hearts and Hands Office, Room 29, at the Orcas Senior Center. 
Hearts and Hands Program Director
The Orcas Senior Center (OSC), the Orcas District of the Senior Services of San Juan County 501(c)3 nonprofit organization continues to grow! Starting November 1, 2017, Tom Eversole was hired to direct the Hearts and Hands Program, which provides home-visiting companions. His initial focus will be on engaging and strengthening support for those volunteers. “Hearts and Hands provides an invaluable service to folks in our community, who are isolated, lonely and may have difficulty preforming ordinary activities of living at home” said Eversole. While not a home health care service, H & H volunteers provide regular, ongoing companionship and can help participants access other appropriate levels of care if needed. “I think my first task is to meet our currently active volunteers to make sure they are getting the support and training they need. As the program becomes more solid, we can accept more volunteer companions and participants,” Eversole said. “With proper support, H & H has the potential to expand its scope of services and to strengthen its collaboration with other community services that fill needs we don’t.” Tom comes to OSC following a career in mental health and public health. He provided mental health services to people with HIV/AIDS at Johns Hopkins Hospital and worked with the HIV/AIDS training program for the American Psychological Association. In Oregon, he served as Public Health Administrator for Benton County and later administered the Center for Public Health Practice for Oregon Health Authority. Tom lives in Deer Harbor and enjoys hiking and community theatre. Program Description Trained volunteers help neighbors in need with:
Referrals If you or someone you know is in need of assistance from a Hearts and Hands volunteer, please contact the Tom Eversole at (360) 370-0562. We will arrange for an assessment meeting to determine what needs can be met through our program and a volunteer will be matched according to similar interests and who can best meet the needs requested. If appropriate, referrals to other programs and services will be provided. There is no fee for services provided by Hearts and Hands. How Can I Help? You can help continue services to the Orcas Island community by donating your time and skills (direct care to a care recipient 1-4 hours weekly), occasional help with work projects (call us and we’ll include you on a list to call for special projects) assisting with transportation, and by giving a tax-deductible donation to Hearts and Hands to PO Box 1653. Our program is possible through grants, donations, and fundraising events. Care recipients are grateful for your gifts. “As you grow older, you will discover you have two hands. One for helping yourself, and one for helping others.” – Audrey Hepburn Volunteers All volunteers receive a training and orientation of the principles and guidelines of being a Hearts and Hands volunteer. The orientation and on-going communication between coordinator and volunteer prepares and supports volunteers to be sensitive to the needs of the care recipient and to respect each person’s right to compassionate care, confidentiality, and dignity at all phases of life. Volunteers generally serve care-recipients in their own homes, but they also meet for lunch or go on field trips or appointments. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact 360-370-0562. United Way of San Juan County grant support received for 2018 The Hearts and Hands program was granted $1,000 in result of the grant request submitted for programming initiatives, specifically utilized to help the Orcas Senior Center with staffing for 2018. We appreciate their funding and hope to increase 2018 program offerings with their continued support! Learn More at: https://www.unitedway.org/ |
Recipient and Volunteer Testimonials
Hearts and Hands History
HEARTS AND HANDS was founded in 2004 as an auxiliary program of Lahari Hospice and Respite Care. In 2009 HEARTS AND HANDS joined the Orcas Island Senior Center, the Orcas District of the Senior Services of San Juan County 501(c)3 program. Donations We appreciate your financial support. Please send tax deductible donations to PO Box 1653, Eastsound, WA 98245 or DONATE online. Your donations will be put to excellent use to help be of service to seniors and individuals with disabilities who could use some support! Organization HEARTS AND HANDS is a program of Orcas Senior Center, the Orcas District of the Senior Services of San Juan County, a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation. This program provides companionship to recipients and is largely volunteer driven with oversight and management provided by the Operations Committee and Staff of the Orcas Senior Center. ORCAS SENIOR CENTER P.O. Box 1653 Eastsound, WA 98245 360-370-0562 orcasheartsandhands@gmail.com |
