PRESENTATION
UR Community Cares
Michelle Puzzo
Yvonne Gardner introduced Michelle Puzzo, President & Co-Founder of UR Community Cares, practiced physical therapy for 20 years and took her knowledge about the complexity of disability and aging in place independently and created a website to better improve people’s lives. She graduated from the University of Connecticut (otherwise known as University of UCONN) in 1998 with her BS in Physical Therapy.
Michelle shared the following video that demonstrated the need for UR Community Cares.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTMc3IJFyl4
Throughout Michelle’s work as a physical therapist, she learned about the needs of our aging community and the gaps in services. Michelle opened with a video demonstrating the need for volunteers to become involved in URCommunityCares. In the US, over 10,000 people turn 65 every day, because these folks who need help are often behind closed doors, their needs go unmet.
These needs include
- Companionship
- Housework
- Yard work
- Transportation
- Errands
- Respite Relief to Primary Caregivers
- Pet Care
UR Community Cares helps fill in the gaps of traditional at-home care services by mobilizing residents to care about and connect with each other. The goal is to link people who can help to those who need help – whether it’s for one hour per week or month or year. The services are provided at no cost to members.
How to participate:
COMMUNITY MEMBERS
Age 70 and older or 18 and older
with a temporary or permanent physical
Disability
•ENROLL and complete our background check -- online or by phone. Can be signed up by family, social worker, trusted friend if they don’t have the Internet
•INITIATE the requests for help with housework, yard workor companionship visits including errands and localtransportation
•Qualify if have disability:
•Temporary Disability after surgery, illness, pregnancy, fracture, joint replacement, etc.
•Permanent after Stroke, Heart Disease, Diabetes, Arthritis, MS, Cancer
VOLUNTEERS
Age 15 and older (age 15-17 with adult consent andsupervision)
•ENROLL online and complete our background check
•ACCEPT home visit requests convenient to theirschedule, within in a 15-mile radius
Volunteers can bring cleaning supplies or yard work supplies as needed.
NO Personal Care – showering, etc.
NO Licensed Work – plumbers, electrical, etc.
Volunteers can work in groups – businesses, faith org., colleges, etc.
Using their secure website, interested Volunteers and Community Members each create an online profile and upload an ID-type photo (to allow one another to be recognized upon arrival for the in-home visit). When a Community Member submits a request for a Community Deed, local registered Volunteers are notified by email/text then sign into their account to view and accept or decline it. Volunteers age 15-17 must have parental consent and visit supervision. There is no personal care e.g. showers and no licensed work e.g. plumbing, electric, etc. Volunteers can sign up as indivduals or a group.
UR Community Cares is currently operating in 125+ towns with 500+ community members and 500+ volunteers saving community members at least $30/hour of work.
REFERRAL PARTNERS – Looking for Resources to fill in Gaps of Care ideas to help UR Community Cares include connecting the organization to the following:
•Insurance Companies
•CT 211 Helpline
•Human Service Depts.
•Social Workers
•Visiting Nurses
•Senior Centers
•Hospitals
•Agency on Aging
•Religious Organizations
Phil Ferrari asked about background checks – Michelle said both members and volunteers undergo background checks.
Larry Sullivan asked about if URCommunity Cares is in Canton. Michelle said she is still waiting to hear if they have received the grant.
Volunteers can help to spread the word and our club had ideas flowing; Ann Clark is going to help spread the word at the Avon Senior Center. Rollie Sterrett is going to help create a connection with the Avon medical locker in which there is a need between the two services. Bob Cave is also connecting Michelle with Healing Meals and Colleen Grasso with local hospitals.
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