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VAS Volunteer
Description:
VAS volunteers
assist senior clients with a variety of issues and problems
including: consumer problems, fraud and unfair sales practices,
billing problems, real estate and landlord tenant problems.
Volunteers also provide advice, via the expertise of an
advising attorney, to seniors who have legal questions regarding
wills, titles, power of attorneys, divorce, bankruptcy and various
other legal issues.
Training:
VAS volunteers
must attend a one day orientation that will familiarize them with
the VAS program and orient them to the procedures that exist within
the VAS office. Volunteers
will be taught how to utilize the advising attorneys and fill out
the necessary client contact forms during this training.
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Nebraska Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (NICA)
Description:
Trained volunteers
assist seniors with questions and/or problems with their Medicare,
Medicaid or other health insurance options.
Assistance is provided over the phone through a 1-800 hotline
or through one on one counseling sessions.
Training
Required:
Volunteers with
the NICA program must be trained by the Nebraska Department of
Insurance. This is a
two day training that provides the volunteer with the information
and materials necessary to assist seniors with their health
insurance options. Trainings
for new volunteers are held several times each year.
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Homestead Exemption Assistance Program
Description:
Each year, from
April to June, eligible seniors and disabled persons may apply for
property tax relief via the homestead exemption application.
Trained volunteers assist seniors with filling out the two
page application for homestead exemption.
Volunteers travel to the homes of seniors who are homebound
and also assist applicants in the VAS office or at local senior
centers.
Training
Required:
Volunteers who
assist with the homestead applications must attend a one day
training each year.
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Volunteer Conservator Committee
Description:
The
VAS volunteer
conservator committee accepts referrals from local social service
agencies, hospitals and other health care professionals for persons
who are in need of assistance with managing their finances.
The VAS conservator committee reviews referrals and
determines if the referral is appropriate for VAS services.
If the referral is accepted, one of the conservator committee
members will volunteer to become appointed as conservator for the
referral. That
volunteer will then handle the clients’ financial affairs and
report to the Douglas County court annually regarding their clients
finances.
Training
Required:
Volunteer
conservators must attend a 2 ½ hour training, provided by VAS and
approved by the Douglas County Court, in order to learn about their
obligations as a court appointed conservator.
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