The world of Medicare can be a maze, and many older adults and persons with disabilities are getting lost. Senior LinkAge Line Call Center Volunteers assist people in navigating all things Medicare via our secure phone system at the Trellis office in Arden Hills. If you want to make a big impact on people’s lives when volunteering, then this is the role for you; with every call, you help older adults stay independent, healthy, and supported.
Please note: We are actively recruiting for this role.
Volunteer Benefits
- Be a vital team member and directly impact the lives of older adults and caregivers.
- Make a real difference in someone’s life with every call.
- Share your knowledge with individuals who truly appreciate it.
- Develop a spectrum of marketable skills while receiving ongoing support, education, and training.
- Expand your social network and increase your professional development opportunities.
- Receive volunteer mileage reimbursement.
Volunteer Role
Senior LinkAge Line (SLL) Call Center Volunteers are trained to help others:
- Understand Medicare basics.
- Compare Medicare Advantage and Supplement Plan options.
- Understand and compare Medicare Part D choices.
- Consider eligibility for Medical Assistance.
- Identify, report, and prevent Medicare Fraud and Abuse.
Volunteer Requirements
- Submission of a resume along with a volunteer application; the resume should highlight any of the following:
- Degrees and/or certifications from an accredited college or university in a human services-related field, such as social work, nursing, public administration, gerontology, community health, or a related field.
- Professional, internship, or volunteer experience working with older adults.
- Professional, internship, or volunteer experience with nursing, assisted living, hospital, and/or home care facilities, or similar experience.
- Strong computer skills. Being comfortable with navigating multiple applications on multiple screens, using Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Suite, and navigating web browsers.
- Ability to work independently and make appropriate decisions.
- Exceptional communication and customer service skills. Being comfortable talking on the phone with inbound callers.
- Being comfortable not knowing every answer and receiving consistent coaching.
- Reliable transportation.
- Compliance with agency non-conflict of interest, confidentiality, and other policies.
- Sensitivity to the needs of older adults, persons with disabilities, and other diverse populations.
- Desire to assist older adults and caregivers to understand their Medicare options.
Volunteer Training
- Completion of State Health Insurance Assistance Program certification, Data Privacy training, and Vulnerable Adult Mandated Reporter certification. These trainings are completed online.
- Onboard, train, and shadow at the Trellis office.
- Receive ongoing training sessions, supervision, and shadow support visits.
- We recommend all new volunteers attend the following free presentations: How the Senior LinkAge Line Can Help You and Fraud & Scams Targeting Older Adults.
Time Investment
Trellis is open Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., and volunteer shifts are available during this timeframe. SLL Call Center Volunteers are expected to sign up, at a minimum, for 2 shifts per month. Each shift is a minimum of 4 hours, and we ask for a commitment of 1 year. Volunteers are responsible for logging their volunteer, educational, and training time in our online portal.
Volunteer Setting
SLL Call Center Volunteers operate from the Trellis office in Arden Hills. There is the possibility of volunteering remotely after roughly 6 months in-office to assure call quality. Volunteers work under the direct supervision of Benefits & Options Team staff and Volunteer Coordinators.
For More Information:
If you have questions, please contact a volunteer coordinator at volunteer@trellisconnects.org or call 651-917-4637.
