The Wishard Volunteer Advocates Program is currently recruiting volunteer advocates for its second annual fall training session. The program provides guardianship services to ill and at-risk adults and seniors who are hospitalized at Wishard and IU Health hospitals. 
Since its implementation in April 2010, the Wishard Volunteer Advocates Program has successfully provided guardianship services to incapacitated patients who are unable to act in their own best interest and lack family support and financial resources. In January 2011, the program began accepting patient referrals from IU Health and is now serving two of the major health systems in Indianapolis. 
"Our volunteers are trained, court-appointed advocates who protect the interests of the patients they serve both while the patients are in the hospital and after they have been transitioned to health care facilities or the community," said Robin Bandy, director of the Wishard Volunteer Advocates Program.  
The at-risk adults and seniors served by the Wishard Volunteer Advocates Program are incapable of representing or protecting their own best interests and are without suitable family involvement to help them make decisions. The role of the volunteer guardian is to assess the at-risk person’s life situation and facilitate health care and social services, plan for the appropriate residential placement, and complete required financial assistance applications. 
The fall training session is scheduled for four weeks from September 12 to October 5, on Monday and Wednesday evenings, from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with a reception on October 12th at 6 p.m. If you are interested and would like further information regarding the program, please contact Robin Bandy at (317) 630-6254 or Robin.Bandy@wishard.edu.