Volunteer

At Mt. Diablo Village, our volunteers are neighbors helping neighbors, providing care and support that bring our community closer together. Volunteering with Mt. Diablo Village isn’t just about lending a hand—it’s about building relationships, strengthening our community, and even making new friends along the way.

Whether you have a little time or a lot, there are so many ways to make a difference—and you don’t need to be a member to get involved!

Volunteers can choose how they’d like to support our members—whether it’s driving someone to a doctor’s appointment, helping with a tech question, gardening, running errands, or just visiting someone and sharing good company.

We’d love to have you join our team of caring, dedicated volunteers. Together, we can help older adults in our community thrive and stay connected. Click here to fill out a volunteer application.

Mt. Diablo Village members must make their service requests the Wednesday prior to the week of the date of service. This will ensure that staff have ample time to find the appropriate volunteer to service the request, or to make a recommendation of a service provider should the staff not be able to fill the request. However, we do understand that occasionally there may be instances when a service is requested with less notice.

It is the policy of the Village that volunteers do not assist with health-related, legal, or financial member activities.

How to respond: If a member asks you to do something that falls into one of those categories, politely decline and instruct the member to contact the office with the request.

If the request does not involve health-related, legal, or financial activities, you can decide if you have the time, interest, and are qualified to do what has been asked. If you think you do, go ahead.

If the request requires a bigger time commitment than you have available, or a service for which you have little skill/interest, politely decline. Explain why you feel you are not the best person for the service requested, and instruct the member tocontact the office with this new request. When in doubt, call the office for instructions.

It is the policy of Mt. Diablo Village that you call 911 if a member has fallen down and cannot get up on their own.

How to respond: Tell the member that the EMT is the best to assess the situation. When the professionals arrive, they can decide what should be done. If the member has fallen and cannot quickly get up, call 911. Do not move the member; rather, sit down beside him or her and talk reassuringly, e.g. “Let me just sit with you until help arrives.”

Report the incident to the Mt. Diablo Village office as soon as possible.

It is the policy of Mt. Diablo Village that volunteers do not accept tips/gifts.

How to respond: Your membership fees include complimentary volunteer services, and it is my pleasure to serve as a volunteer. However, if you would like to make an additional contribution to Mt. Diablo Village, I know it would be greatly appreciated. Alternatively, if you wish to express your appreciation, you may wish to contact the Mt. Diablo Village office and share your comments with the staff.

If the situation requires immediate resolution, call the office. If immediate action needs to be taken, make a note of the feedback.

There will be periodic volunteer meetings to collect and review feedback from the volunteers and members. As a new organization, feedback and suggestions will be vital in establishing the way Mt. Diablo Village operates and what we communicate to members/future volunteers.

It is the policy of Mt. Diablo Village that volunteers cannot provide health care services, including dispensing medications. If the member requires home health care, Mt. Diablo Village will have a list of companions and health care providers to offer the member. Under no circumstances should a volunteer attempt to perform any task that may be construed as health care. Examples in addition to dispensing medication include changing dressings or band aids, aiding a member to bathe or dress, moving a member from a wheelchair to bed, or similar actions. If a member needs this kind of assistance, Mt. Diablo Village will provide a list of resources for the member to contact.

The policy of Mt. Diablo Village is that volunteers are to avoid inappropriate touching (hand shaking is a gracious way of greeting and gently guiding a frail older adult by the arm while walking or in transit is fine).

Mt. Diablo Village volunteers should not perform legal or financial work for the members. For example, a volunteer should not be handling a checkbook or paying bills.

If you are concerned that the member is at risk physically, financially, emotionally or otherwise, contact the office immediately. See the policy below regarding Elder Abuse.

Elder Abuse

What if I suspect the member is being abused by a family member, friend or other service provider?

If you are concerned for the person’s well-being and see evidence of physical abuse – call the Police or 911.

If the member has signs of being physically abused, report your suspicions of abuse to the office. All abuse will be reported and the office will assist in completing the necessary paperwork and calls.

All volunteers are required to be trained in elder abuse. Classes will be scheduled on a regular basis.

Giving Advice

We all have health or wellness wisdom. We have ideas about interpersonal relationships and what should or should not be done in any given situation. However, we want to refrain from sharing our personal wisdom with our member clients because it could be damaging or cause harm if we don’t know all the circumstances.

When someone asks your advice on what to do – you can tell them you can find an “expert” for them to discuss that matter with and you will have the office give them a call.

Handling Money

If a member asks you to go grocery shopping or pick up items, you and the member should first agree on the approximate amount to be spent, and payment should be reimbursed in the form of a check. Upon completion of the task, present the member with an itemized receipt.

Volunteer with Integrity

Mt. Diablo Village volunteers take pride in the work they do to make aging a positive experience for seniors in Walnut Creek. We serve with the highest level of integrity to assist our senior members to make aging in place possible and for as long as possible. It is rewarding to see smiles on our members’ faces for many years to come.

Volunteer Handbook: Click here to download

Mt. Diablo Village

Volunteer

How do members make their requests?

What if a member asks me to do services which go beyond the scope of what I agreed to?

What if I would like to discontinue an ongoing volunteer assignment?

What if I see something in the home which I feel is unsafe for the member or myself?

What if there is a medical emergency involving the member while I am in the home?

What if a member offers me a tip?

How do I reach someone in the office after hours?

What if I receive feedback from the member about Mt. Diablo Village that I think needs to be shared?

How do I handle healthcare services, take precautions and avoid liability?

How long can I be an active volunteer Driver?

Mt. Diablo Village