STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
Helen Chenoweth has a new mission in life. She’s volunteered to drive people to doctor and other appointments in Twin Falls and Boise under a new volunteer program that took wings on Tuesday.
Chenoweth signed her name on the dotted line, even as Senior Connection Director Teresa Lipman was hammering out the details with Interlink Volunteer Caregivers.
“To me it’s a day to get out, maybe have lunch. It can be just a fun day,” said Chenoweth.
The new program fills a big gap in transportation services for those who might need to go to Twin Falls or Boise for chemotherapy or other services but can’t drive themselves or are fearful they won’t be well enough to drive home once they’ve received treatment.
Transportation outside Boise was identified as one of the key problems facing seniors by a committee that included Erin Buell and Erin Pfaeffle of St. Luke’s Center for Community Health and Dale Ewersen.
And under the program spearheaded by Interlink Volunteer Caregivers it will be extended to those with disabilities and chronic illness, no matter what their age.
“Mountain Rides will deviate from their route up to three-quarters of a mile to pick up those who can’t make it to a bus stop. And The Senior Connection does what it can do, even assisting people in and out of their home. But the challenge is when someone needs to leave the valley, particularly for medical appointments,” said Lipman.
“We do the best we can but sometimes the answer is hiring a taxi, and that can run between $300 and $400. Sometimes Medicare/Medicaid covers that but not always,” she added.
Interlink Volunteer Caregivers will reimburse volunteer drivers 50 cents a mile to take people to doctor’s appointments or on other essential errands. And The Senior Connection’s volunteer coordinator Barbara Espedal received training on Tuesday concerning how to accept new volunteers and pair them with passengers.
Those who would like to serve as volunteer drivers or who need a ride should call The Senior Connection at 208-788-3468.
Interlink Volunteer Caregivers (IVC) is a nonprofit organization based in Twin Falls that provides volunteer assistance, such as transportation, companionship, respite for caregivers, shopping, light housekeeping, yard work, snow removal, handyman repairs and home modifications.
The group is funded by donations.
Well established in the Magic Valley, IV now wants to make inroads into the Wood River Valley. At Buell’s recommendation, they’re starting small by tackling transportation, which was determined to be the most critical need.
IVC already has provided transportation for a few Wood River Valley residents, including a 21-year-old Sun Valley employee from Spain who needed to go to Twin Falls for treatment for a rare form of cancer.
But, since it had not established volunteers from the Wood River Valley, it was forced to use drivers from the Magic Valley. That escalated costs as the drivers were reimbursed for driving to the Wood River Valley to pick up the patients, in addition to driving the patients down and back.
“Sometimes Mountain States Tumor Institute (MSTI) will put up someone who’s retired or not working in a hotel during the week so all we have to do is drive them down Sunday night and take them home Friday,” said Edie Schab, executive director of IVC.
“MSTI just called us about a young woman who’s 47 and was just diagnosed with breast cancer. She has to go in for 15-minute treatments Monday through Friday for five weeks but wants to continue to work as much as she can. We might not be able to drive her five days a week, but maybe we can take care of two,” she added.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Call Interlink Volunteer Caregivers at 208-733-6333 or visit www.ivcSouthernIdaho.com.