The 'A' List

Within nursing homes, volunteers are a limited commodity. Everyone needs them, but to have a vast amount of people volunteering on a regular basis is often unheard of. How do you get volunteers?  Here is a way you can gain volunteers and keep them coming back!

There are so many people who really would like to help out your facility, but have a regular list of excuses. 1- I don't like nursing homes. or 2- I don't have the time. How do you get around this thinking? There is a way!

The key things to remember when asking for volunteers are: keep their initial volunteering times to a minimum, make sure they know exactly what they will be doing, and where in the facility they will be working, and lastly, make it as easy as possible for them to sign up.

Time is Everything
Volunteering is beneficial for everyone. It makes the volunteer happy to have given back and it makes the recipient happy that they have help. A win/win situation. So why is it so hard to get people to volunteer? The first problem is that people just do not have a lot of extra time in their lives to commit to something weekly or sometimes even monthly. Take this into consideration when asking for volunteers. Show them that volunteering can work into their schedule. Is there a place in your facility for someone who can only work two times a year? My guess is most of you will answer "the more the merrier! " When asking volunteers to help, make sure they know that any time they can give is helpful to you. Maybe they have time to help with a yearly party. Maybe there is monthly paperwork, or copies to be made that they can help with. Just because they aren't able to help more than a few hours a year, doesn't mean you should turn them away. Just the opposite! Welcome them in and praise them for helping.

Set Clear Expectations
When you are searching for volunteers, know that oftentimes their fear of the unknown is what will drive them away. How will it be at the nursing home? Will I be scared of the elderly? What am I getting myself into? These are the questions that you must address to a potential volunteers. Make sure that the volunteer knows what specific job they will be doing, how much time it will take, and what exposure to the residents will they have. All of these answers will help alleviate fears, making it easier for them to commit their time to you.

Here is an example: If you post a sign at the local library that says "Volunteers Needed at your local nursing home." this will attract a few people who are looking to help in this type of setting. If you instead posted up something that said "Volunteers Needed- 1 hour a month to help with light secretarial duties in the office." you will get more people calling to see how they can help. Just by answering a few questions right up front, you will pique the interest of more potential volunteers.

Breaking Down the Barriers
When thinking about volunteering, you need to think outside the box. How can you get people into your facility? Many people have a fear of nursing homes, for various reasons. It is not that they don't want to help, but they are fearful of helping. Take some of that fear away by trying to attract people for secretarial duties at first. Many people really want to help, but don't feel comfortable around residents at first. By getting people to come into your facility and do paperwork, or answering the phone, they can become familiar with the residents and get over their initial fears. After helping in this way for a while, then you can ask them if they would like to move to other volunteer opportunities that more heavily involve working with the residents. You will find that after people get used to coming and have calmed certain fears, they are more open to trying new things. Some people will not ever want to do this type of work, and that is fine, but the majority will take that next step.

Make the Process Easy
Make it as easy as possible for your volunteers to start working. There is typically paperwork, a TB, and other requirements volunteers need to be completed before they can work at the facility. These are things that will stop some people from becoming a volunteer.  Why?  Because what may seem like a simple thing for us, might be too much of a hassle for them. 

Often, when you find someone who wouldn't mind volunteering, any extra step gets in the way.  These are necessary steps, but ones that people would rather not have to do.  For instance, the extra step of making an appointment for a TB test, getting the test, and then having to come back to have it checked is too much work for them. Making it an easier process will help them not fall through the cracks and be left out of volunteering.

If you find a potential volunteer, do everything you can to walk them through the process.  Take any task they have, and make sure they do them.  If you can send them the paperwork in the mail, do it.  This simple step helps limit the time they have to take to come to the facility, fill it out and drive back home. In just a simple stamp, you have eliminated one barrier to getting volunteers.

As far as the the TB testing, try and set this up for them. Make sure that you get two or three days and times of the week that work for them, and then offer to schedule that appointment for your potential volunteer. Call the doctors office and set up their appointment, and then call them back to give them a specific time they need to be there. If you know of a facility that would work with you exclusively to do this for your volunteers that is a great idea. Taking this step will bring you one step closer to having a volunteer. If you take a more active role in helping them complete these, you will see your volunteer list expand by leaps and bounds.

Where To Ask For Volunteers
Now that you know how to get the volunteers that are willing through the process, how do your find these willing people?  The top ways to find volunteers are through fliers, online, word of mouth and philanthropic groups.

There are many places that you can post a flier asking for volunteers. Your local library, grocery stores, and college campuses are good places to start. Just make sure that in your flier you include a few options for volunteers.  Remember your flier should give details, and contact information.

There are also many places online that offer matching programs for volunteers and people who need them. This is a more long term way of finding volunteers.  Don't expect to get a lot of volunteers right away from this method.  It is just good to always have the post up and keep it fresh depending on your needs.

Find local philanthropic organizations, or local groups who you would like to speak to. Ask them if you can speak at their monthly meeting. You can share what you do at your facility, and what specific volunteer opportunities you are looking to fill.  People within these organizations are very willing to use their time for the betterment of others.  That is how they became interested in the other organization in the first place.  This is a prime spot for new volunteers!  If you are not a speaker, ask if you can host a table before the meeting starts. Set up your table with volunteer opportunities listed, a place for them to sign up, and pictures of your facility. This will give you a more one on one approach. Use this as a great time to let them learn about your facility and then ask, ask, ask! 

It has always amazed me that when you ask someone something directly they typically will help. It has been studied, and determined that if you ask a group of people to help, you will not get as many respondents as you would if single one person out and ask them directly. Don't forget this key point. It will come in handy either when you are talking to someone at a table set up at a meeting, or when you meet someone at a party!

Once you have mastered this process you will find your volunteer list filling up. Long gone will be the days of "I wish we had more people willing to help!" Believe me, they are out there! By using these tips you will now be able to find them, ask them and get them to say "Yes!"