Volunteers who contribute their time to nonprofits certainly aren’t motivated by tax breaks. Many volunteers may not even know that they are entitled to deduct the expenses incurred in helping the organization.

But the Internal Revenue Service does treat some of those expenses as charitable contributions, as long as the volunteer itemizes deductions on his or her tax return.

Here’s a brief rundown of the tax aspects of costs incurred in rendering volunteer services:

Volunteers may deduct unreimbursed expenses that are incidental to their volunteer work. So, fares spent in going from the volunteer’s home to the places service is rendered, phone calls, postage stamps, stationery and similar out-of-pocket costs are deductible as charitable donations.

On the 2008 tax return a volunteer could deduct 15-cents per mile in lieu of computing the costs of operating his or her car while doing volunteer work. They should be sure to keep good odometer records.

A volunteer who has unreimbursed expenditures of $250 or more while providing volunteer services to a charity is treated as having obtained a receipt from the charity (and thus may deduct those expenses), if the volunteer has adequate records for his or her volunteer expenses and obtains an abbreviated receipt from the charity.

Finally, it’s up to the volunteer to substantiate his or her deductions if the IRS questions them. Anyone who takes these deductions should be ready to show the connection between the costs claimed and the volunteer work performed – and should also be able to prove the costs with canceled checks, receipted bills, diary entries, etc.

Donations by be in cash or in-kind.

Please direct any questions about your individual tax situation to a tax professional, who can advise you regarding the latest changes to tax deductions for voluteers.

It’s ok to be assertive.

It’s ok to be straight-forward (assertive) with your Neighbor.

It’s ok to turn down even a legitimate request. You can suggest that the neighbor call the Verde Valley Caregivers office to schedule another service.

It’s ok to tell the Verde Valley Caregivers office that you do not want to do a particular service or serve a particular neighbor. Verde Valley Caregivers does not want you to become frustrated with volunteering. We value your service.

To prevent your phone number from being displayed on caller ID, you can dial *67 before dialing the number you are calling. To block unwanted calls, lift the receiver, press *60 and follow the recorded instructions (where you enter the number to be rejected). To cancel call rejection, press *80.

A word of caution:

Don’t say, “Yes, I’ll do it.”
When you want to say is “No, I won’t be able to do that.”

Patient scribing means helping a Neighbor prepare for and take notes during their healthcare appointment.

Things to remember

• Healthcare appointments are very personal.
• Not all people are comfortable with the presence of another person during the appointment.
• Some people feel intimidated by their healthcare provider.
• They may not know what questions to ask.
• Another person can provide moral support (as well as ears) for the patient.

CONFIDENTIALITY is most important: you are there as a second set of ears – not
as the neighborhood informant!

Before the Appointment

1) Talk with them to ascertain their needs during the visit.
2) What are their expectations of your being with them.
3) Set limits of what you will do!
4) Go over or help them fill out the Reminder Sheet.
5) Encourage them to be proactive during the visit.
6) Introduce yourself to the office staff and provider and explain why you are there.

During the Appointment

1) Remind them of questions they may forget to ask.
2) Ask the Provider for explanations when information is not clear.
3) Questions for tests ordered:

• Why?
• How long?
• Where do I go?
• What prep is necessary?

4) Questions regarding new medications:

• Why?
• Restrictions: other meds, foods, etc.
• When to take?
• Possible side effects

5) New diagnosis:

• Discuss meaning of this.
• Disease Management issues.

After the Appointment

1) Review with Neighbor the notes taken on the reminder sheet.
2) Rewrite in a way that they can see and understand (when necessary).

1. STOP TALKING!
You have to be willing to hear what the other person has to say. Many times we are only
waiting for them to finish so we can say something.

2. GIVE YOUR ATTENTION
Face the person and try to “tune in” to him/her. Forget your own ideas, thoughts, solutions, and values. Don’t assume things – let them tell you.

3. GIVE THEM TIME
When people are upset/angry/frustrated they need time to vent – to get rid of those intense feelings before they can deal with affairs at hand.

4. SHOW THAT YOU ARE LISTENING
Face the person, make eye contact, look alive and interested. When we are really listening our eyes blink every 3-4 seconds. That tells the other person that you are with them.

5. USE WORDS, ETC. TO SHOW YOU ARE LISTENING
Simple, short words: “yes, go on, I see tell me more”; just “ummmmmm…or umhum”. A nod or a smile can also encourage.

6. CHECK WHAT YOU THINK YOU HEARD
By paraphrasing or reflecting what they said…”What you are saying is” or “I think I heard correctly – do you mean…?”

7. LISTEN WITH THE “THIRD EAR”
Observe how they sit, their body tension, facial expression, eye movement – as well as their words to assess how they are FEELING. That may well be the most important part of the message they are giving you. Try “That really troubles you…”; “How did that make you feel?”

8. ACCEPTANCE IS IMPORTANT
Show by your body language and words that you accept them as they are human beings. This does not necessarily mean that you agree with them. It does mean that you accept the fact that this is the way they perceive their world at this time.

9. USE SILENCE
Sometimes we all need space to gather our thoughts, our courage, our words, so that we can share our lives with another. Silence gives us that space.

How to be a valued friend to a person at home.

• Make sure you are welcome.
• Call ahead to make arrangements for the day and time that is best for both of you.
• Limit your visit to one hour.
• Use common sense, tact, and courtesy.
• Do not take food, flowers, pets, or other people until given permission.
• Receive the person’s hospitality graciously.
• Serving you gives them a feeling of giving.
• Honor the confidential nature of your relationship.
• Respect the living space of the Neighbor.
• Respect your Neighbor’s feelings about touching and being touched.
• Sit facing the window, if possible, so you’re dealing with the glare.
• Accept the Neighbor’s moods and opinions.
• Avoid controversy, at least at first!
• Follow your Neighbor’s lead in the conversation.
• Share interesting articles, magazines and stories with your Neighbor.
• Explore your Neighbor’s past and family history.
• Encourage new interests and help revive former interests.
• Avoid showing pity: Listening in silent sympathy and refraining from offering words of advice or moral counsel shows caring and acceptance.
• Encourage feeling-level discussion: Listening and accepting your Neighbor’s negative feelings is very helpful.
• False cheer is not helpful!
• Do not ignore nor discourage talk about death.
• Show interest and respond even to stories told many times: One technique is to say “You have told me that story many times. It must have special meaning to you.”
• Remember that sometimes “silence is golden”.
• Bring a heart that feels deeply and is accepting, a mind that searches for ways of making the homebound person happy and less isolated, and a sense of humor that provides encouragement and breathes life into the day.

Communicating with Persons with Dementia

• Start a conversation in a positive way.
• Be on their level – eye to eye.
• Build trust by stating your name and why you are there: “Mrs. Jones, I am Linda. I’m here to play cards with you today.”
• Be clear.
• Don’t hurry: speak slowly and quietly and give them time to respond.
• Use short sentences – one at a time.
• Repeat and rephrase as necessary. “Shall we go for a walk?” “Would you like to go outside?”
• Use nouns instead of pronouns: “I am going to call Joan.”
• Avoid open-ended questions: “What do you want to eat?”
• Give choices, but not too many! “Would you like ice cream or Jell-O?”
• Don’t use clichés – they may take it literally: “Let’s hop into bed now.”
• Use commonly-understood motions: wave good-bye when saying it.
• Communicate positive emotions.
• Let them think they are helping you. “Will you help me with the
  Valentine’s Day decorations? I would like that.”
• Be calm and quiet – touch gently.
• Use praise and humor – they can read your mood by actions, tone of voice etc. even when they can’t understand the words.
• Pay attention.
• Watch their body language to interpret their comfort level with touching, activity, etc.
• Listen to them – they may use the wrong words but know what they are
  talking about, or may use several words to explain: “I need a thing for
  water.”
• Let them show you or lead you to what they are talking about.

What to Do When a Person is Agitated

• Redirect attention.
• Downplay situation.
• Don’t push them.
• Let them stay in a familiar space.
• Stay at arm’s length.
• Keep door locked.