What Happens When No One Steps Up?

Why Volunteer Advocates Are So Critical

Every day in Johnson, Hancock, and Shelby counties, seniors and incapacitated adults quietly slip through the cracks. Not because no one cares, but because there simply aren’t enough people to step up. Volunteer Advocates with the VASIA (Volunteer Advocates for Seniors and Incapacitated Adults) program are the frontline defenders for these vulnerable individuals, but when there aren’t enough volunteers, many go unnoticed and unprotected.

The Unseen Crisis

Elder abuse is on the rise nationally, and while VASIA District 17 doesn’t maintain a waitlist, it only takes on as many cases as it has trained volunteers. That means countless seniors and incapacitated adults are left without someone to advocate for their health, financial security, and basic dignity. Without a guardian, these individuals may be taken advantage of by family, lose housing due to mismanaged insurance, or be institutionalized without cause. The greatest loss, however, is often invisible: the loss of connection and humanity.

The Role of a Volunteer Advocate

Volunteer Advocates do more than manage paperwork. They offer a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves. Whether it’s ensuring a client’s medication is covered by insurance, confirming that they are attending necessary doctor’s appointments, or making sure a care facility is meeting their needs, a volunteer guardian steps in where no one else can.

In many cases, these volunteers are the only consistent, caring presence in their client’s life. Their role may include:

• Managing finances and insurance
• Monitoring health and care plans
• Making legal and medical decisions as needed
• Advocating for respectful and compassionate treatment

They serve individuals who either have no family or whose families are not acting in their best interest, people whom the court has determined cannot make safe or informed decisions on their own.

What Happens Without Advocates?

Without a trained advocate, the consequences can be devastating:

• Abuse and Neglect: Without oversight, incapacitated adults can suffer physical, emotional, or financial abuse.
• Eviction or Institutionalization: If insurance isn’t managed correctly, a client can lose their place in a care facility.
• Isolation: Many individuals simply suffer from extreme loneliness, with no one to check in on them or ensure their wellbeing.

These are not just hypothetical outcomes. They are daily realities for too many in our community.

Answering the Call

Becoming a volunteer guardian is not about having all the answers, it’s about showing up. Most volunteers spend an average of just six hours a month, and VASIA provides all the tools, training, and support needed to be effective.

What to Expect as a Volunteer

• Flexible Scheduling: You can set your own hours, although emergencies may occasionally arise.
• Training Provided: Topics include guardianship law, aging and mental capacity, Medicare and Medicaid, end-of-life care, and ethical decision-making.
• Supportive Network: VASIA staff and fellow volunteers provide a strong backbone of guidance and assistance.
• Real Impact: Even when communication is challenging due to cognitive decline, your presence means everything.

How to Get Started

The first step is simple: complete a volunteer guardian application and schedule an interview. This ensures the opportunity is the right fit for you and gives you a chance to learn more about what to expect.

Whether you have a background in nursing, social work, education, or simply a heart for service, there is a place for you in VASIA. Compassion, patience, and a desire to protect those in need are the only prerequisites.

Your Community Needs You

When no one steps up, vulnerable adults suffer in silence. But when someone like you says "yes," lives change. As a volunteer advocate, you provide more than assistance—you offer hope, security, and dignity.

Now more than ever, our community needs compassionate individuals to answer the call. Will you be the voice that someone desperately needs?

Join VASIA District 17 and make a difference that matters.