Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma

Senior Volunteer Patrol is a win-win-win program

Rick Monroe

Special to the Village News

The Sheriff Department's Senior Volunteer Patrol is a win-win-win for the greater Fallbrook area. Residents benefit from the free services it provides, deputies are freed to handle "more important" duties, and the volunteers gain a feeling of giving back to the community in a meaningful way.

Another benefit: Volunteers are given an opportunity to develop friendships and learn about the community. For example, take the story of George Argodale, 62, the newest of 33 SVPs at the Fallbrook substation.

"I'm relatively new to Fallbrook," he said during a recent interview at the substation. "I moved here in November 2020 and felt this was a good way to get to know the community. I felt that after limited socializing with Covid, it was a good way to both give back and meet people."

The retired CIO completed the two-week training course in San Diego earlier this month.

Frank Brock and Terry Decker are the local SVP administrators, coordinating the schedules and assignments of the team.

"You definitely get to know each other," Brock said. "When you spend six hours with someone in a vehicle, you quickly become friends. We have a really great group of people and it's something to know that you can give back to the community."

"We need more volunteers," he added.

The volunteers do much more than riding through town in the white department vehicles. Some of the tasks are:

• Checking on the welfare of elderly or disabled residents

• Helping with traffic control at traffic accidents and special events

• Visiting homes when people ask for patrols when on vacation

• Driving a patrol car to the garage for maintenance

• Delivering or picking up papers, documents, supplies, etc.

• Other administrative work

"We do a lot of the grunt work, so the deputies can take care of the important things," Brock said.

Lt. Aldo Hernandez, commander of the Fallbrook Substation, spoke highly of the volunteer program. "I always tell them they are my favorite people," he said. "I always attend their monthly team meetings and they are very, very appreciated."

The welfare checks are in a program called YANA – You Are Not Alone. The purpose is for elderly, disabled and shut-in residents to know they are never alone. The free program offers peace of mind and a sense of security for those who enjoy their independence but have no friends or family to check on them regularly.

People in the YANA program are able to take care of their own day-to-day needs but recognize that a medical crisis could render them helpless. Countywide, YANA has been credited with saving the lives of many elderly adults who live alone and have fallen or become sick.

SVP member phone calls are made Monday through Friday before 10 a.m. If a YANA participant does not answer after three attempts, Senior Volunteer Patrol members will go to the participant's home to make sure they are not sick, injured or in need of help. If Senior Volunteers Patrol members see a problem or still cannot make contact, a deputy is called to the scene and emergency medical assistance may be summoned.

Each YANA member gets a weekly personal visit from Senior Volunteer Patrol members, bringing a personal touch to the program. During the visit, volunteers check the YANA members' well-being. They also stay aware of basic signs of abuse whether financial, physical or even self-inflicted through general neglect or lack of resources.

Brock recalled a recent case where a SVP team was unable to contact a participant by phone or in person. A deputy was sent, and the resident was found on the floor, unable to get up through the night. Paramedics came and said the team saved the man's life.

The countywide SVP program was established in 1994 and there are more than 700 volunteers who provide more than 168,000 hours of service per year for the county.

The program was shut down in Fallbrook for more than a year because of COVID-19. Prior to the pandemic, there were two shifts, but since starting back last April, there is one shift, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Brock said that from April to December, the local SVP has driven 23,400 miles, performed 625 vacation visits, 2,950 YANA calls and 206 YANA visits.

Most volunteers at the Fallbrook substation are scheduled for 2-4 shifts a month, Brock said, usually with a different partner. Brock has been a volunteer for 6 years and has more than 3,000 hours of service.

"That's not a lot," he said. "Terry (Decker) has 8,000 or 9,000 hours."

He noted that of the 33 current volunteers, 20 are on patrol and 13 handle administrative duties.

"Cindy Roark used to be in patrol but now she's one of the front desk workers," Brock said. "She has 10,000 hours, and Sharon Pipes, who coordinates YANA, has 15,000 hours."

The volunteers seem proud of their hours. Argodale's first 6-hour shift with a seasoned SVP was scheduled for next week, so he has a lot of catching up ahead.

Volunteers must be age 50 or more, have a driver's license and insurance, and must complete a background check. The volunteers are classified as non-paid employees, meaning they receive worker's compensation insurance

The 80-hour formal academy covers such topics as Alzheimer's safe return, crime prevention, department orientation, ethics and rules of conduct, radio training, and traffic control. Graduates of the academy are provided a hat, whistle, uniforms, backpack name tag, traffic vest and badge – an opportunity to serve.

Applications are available at the substation, 388 East Alvarado St.

 

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