IVC Overview
Causes: Human Services, Transportation & Home Safety Modification Assistance
Target Demographics: Elderly, disabled, & chronically ill individuals (primarily age 60
and over) who use IVC as the last resort due to limited financial/transportation/family resources.
Geographic Service Area: Numerous communities within the Magic Valley service area including Blaine, Camas, Cassia, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka, and Twin Falls counties.
Purpose: IVC provides clients "Access to Healthcare" and other essential services while "Giving the Gift of Home" so they can remain self-reliant and safe in the comfort of their home regardless of their lack of financial/transportation/family resources.
Mission Statement: Interlink Volunteer Caregivers (IVC) provides volunteer transportation (FREE door through door) along with minor home safety modification (wheelchair ramps, handrails & grab bars) services to the elderly, disabled, and chronically ill individuals to live independently in their own homes.
Services: IVC’s current services consist of two parts – transportation and home safety modifications.
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Part 1 – “Access to Healthcare” transportation program provides low-income, elderly, disabled and chronically ill citizens of the eight-county service area rides to cancer treatments, dialysis, medical specialists, as well as preventive healthcare appointments along with essential errands to the pharmacy and grocery store. These trips can also connect clients to their medical providers (including VA Clinics) in Twin Falls, Boise, Meridian, Pocatello, Idaho Falls or occasionally Salt Lake City.
Part 2 - IVC's home safety modification program also helps by installing wheelchair ramps, handrails & grab bar modifications in client's homes. Home modifications improve participants' safety, accessibility, privacy, and occupational performance, especially in performing self-care activities.
Our Team: IVC uses a “workforce” of dedicated volunteers. All IVC’s volunteers are criminally background checked, trained and insured. The volunteer “workforce” uses their own vehicles to transport clients while other volunteers provide minor home safety modifications.
Why is IVC so special: IVC’s volunteer transportation service is unique for clients because it is the only FREE, door to door service, which includes a friendly volunteer who visits and offers companionship to them during each transport. Our volunteers wait while clients are at their appointments, so they don’t experience any extended periods of delay or additional anxiety. Most of our clients require extra individual assistance due to issues like mobility, impaired vision and/or hearing and who have no other viable options.
Results: IVC has continued to be the lifeline and last resort service throughout the years. Our program's success is measured by the individuals we serve – 91% of IVC’s client base is over age 60, while 65% are 70 and over. 63% live alone in their own homes with 73% being women and 49% of these women being 70 and over. Extending the days clients can live at home is a huge benefit.
Why: Access barriers are issues preventing people from receiving timely medical care, including lack of transportation. Most believe that accessibility and individual interactions are the most effective way to improve health and wellness caused by social isolation, while relieving loneliness, which can lead to premature death caused by extended periods of hypertension and anxiety. Social isolation among older adults alone accounts for an estimated 6.7% billion in excess Medicaid spending annually, largely due to increased hospital and nursing facility spending.