What is a Support Team?

A Support Team is a group of volunteers (usually six to 10) working together to offer practical, emotional and spiritual support to individuals and families with serious health care concerns and/or other special needs. Examples might be chronic or terminal illnesses, crisis situations or caring for the elderly who have become frail.

Why are Support Teams needed?

• People are living longer with fewer resources
• mprovements in medical technology have increased life expectancies but not necessarily with the quality of life desired.
• Fewer caregivers are available with families living apart.
• One-on-one volunteers can get "burned out" or become unable to satisfy growing needs.

What does a Support Team do?

A Support Team might provide activities such as; transportation to doctor or therapy visits, household or yard chores, errands, meals, social outings, visits, phone calls, or time for caretakers to have a break or respite.

What does a Support Team NOT do?

• Provide financial assistance
• Provide direct medical care

What are the different types of Support Teams?

• Individual/Family - one team per individual or family
• Mission/Purpose - one team meets a common need for a variety of individuals (ex: Professional Advocacy Team for Senior Adults)
• Facility Model - one team focuses on a place such as a nursing home wing

What are the advantages of a TEAM approach?

• Useful as an adjunct to Stephen Ministry when: the care is too great for a one-on-one contact;practical types of support are identified
• Provide a variety of skills - No one can do it all, but everyone can do something. Each participant offers that which he/she is most comfortable/skilled in providing. What's your passion? Where is your heart?
• Time Flexibility - Each team member decides how much time he or she has to give. Time flexibility is unique to each team member and can be variable from month to month. Business travel, vacations etc. are taken into account.
• Coordination of efforts - maximizes the efforts and skills of the team and avoids duplication of activities - a team leader "puts it all together." The team meets once a month to communicate, educate and coordinate its mission.
• A built-in support system: team members support one another by setting personal and team boundaries and sharing the care and have resources available to them--team leaders, staff liaisons and community resources

A proven model with support from the National Support Team Network - Project Compassion in Chapel Hill, N.C.

For more info:  Tiffany Wright, Minister for Care Ministries   214-452-3107
      

Helping Hands Ministry Team
Helping Hands ministry is a Support Team ministry that assists the elderly and others with household chores, running errands, transportation to doctor appointments or to church, yard work, writing notes. Volunteers with Helping Hands typically assist with short-term needs, not chronic needs.

        For more info:  Reed Burton, Team Leader   214-887-0945

Professional Advocacy Team for Senior Adults
Senior adults who need simple legal questions answered, or have questions in such areas as living wills, insurance billing explanations or Medicare questions may find assistance from the volunteers of this support team. All  referrals and questions are confidential.

       For more info:  Tiffany Wright, Minister for Care Ministries   214-452-3107