Virtual Connections: Digital Coach
Description
Original Posting: August 2024
General Responsibilities:
Coordinates with the Tri-County Office on Aging (TCOA) and MSU’s Virtual Connections team to coach either home-delivered meal (HDM) recipients or older adults who attend congregate meal sites on basic smartphone literacy for them to connect with family and friends, community services, and health professionals.
Coaching sessions with HDM recipients will be arranged. Coaching sessions with congregate meals will be scheduled in cooperation with congregate meal sites.
Essential Volunteer Functions:
- Participates in a one-hour training session with TCOA and MSU’s Virtual Connections team before beginning coaching, and an additional hour training about 4-6 weeks later.
- Completes a baseline survey to inform TCOA and MSU of general smartphone preference and use.
- If working with HDM recipients, works directly with a meal recipient in their home during weekly 45-minutes to one-hour coaching sessions for 10-12 weeks, using manuals provided to both the participant and the coach. Coaches will be matched with iPhone or Android device users.
- If working at a congregate meal site, works with one or a small group of older adults illustrating various smartphone features and applications, and assisting participants as they try to use their own phones for the same purpose. Sessions will run for 45 minutes, once a week for six weeks.
- Consults the manual provided as a guide to coaching sessions.
- Works at the pace of the older adult participant to practice smartphone skills.
- If working with HDM recipients, completes a 5-minute survey relating to progress following each coaching session.
- Generally communicates with TCOA and the MSU team throughout coaching on the older adult’s needs for successfully learning smartphone skills.
- Invited to attend optional and periodic group discussions with other coaches for peer support and continuing discussions of issues encountered and solutions developed.
- Completes a posttest survey to report on their experience and evaluate coaching training, materials and process.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Commitment to the organization’s mission and goals.
- Good knowledge of iPhone or Android devices and their features, and comfort in explaining to others how to use these features.
- Ability to maintain confidential information regarding all aspects of participant, volunteer, and agency information.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Ability to communicate effectively and establish good relationships with staff, participants, volunteers, .
- Ability to represent the agency in a professional manner.
- Ability to meet department standards regarding job knowledge, participant focus, initiative, productivity, communication, teamwork, and attendance.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- If coaching an HDM recipient, the work takes place in the meal recipient’s home.
- If coaching at a congregate meal site, the work takes place at the site.
- Physical mobility is required for sitting, walking, and standing.
- Must be able to communicate effectively with participants, other volunteers, and agency personnel over the telephone.
- Sensory requirements include exposure to various temperatures, noise levels, and lighting.
- Mental requirements include the ability to handle varying levels of stress.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA):
All volunteers who have access to protected health information or personally identifiable information, are required by the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rule to receive training so that they have an understanding and knowledge of the Privacy and Security Rule that corresponds to their duties. Training on the requirements of the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rule and the policies and procedures is a prerequisite for this position. Employees and volunteers who violate the requirements of the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rule will be subject to discipline up to and including losing volunteer privileges.
Reports to:
- Volunteer and Outreach Specialist, TCOA
Volunteer Location:
- Varies throughout Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties.
Basic Work Schedule:
If you are already a driver and intend to work with HDM recipients, this work may align with driver’s current schedule of meal deliveries. Individual coaching sessions generally run 45-minutes to one hour, one day per week.
Additional Details
- Volunteers should be between the ages of 18 and 99.
- Situation is not family friendly.
- Is not outdoors.
- Brought to you by a partnership between TCOA and MSU Virtual Connections.
- Funded by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund.
Interests
- Using your general knowledge of smartphones to help others
- Developing working relationships with older adults
- Connecting with those who may wish to overcome social isolation
- Learning about telehealth and helping others learn about it
- Coaching/Teaching new skills
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