Verde Valley Caregivers Coalition provides transportation for elderly, disabled ‘neighbors’.
VVCC gives clients, fondly referred to as “neighbors,” rides for kidney dialysis, doctor appointments, grocery shopping, medication pick-up, friendly visits and
more.
“We even take care of pets when our neighbors are hospitalized,” said Bizardi. “That includes taking pets to veterinary appointments as well.”
“Caring always comes first, and we are building and rallying the entire community to care,” said VVCC Executive Director Kent Ellsworth. “That’s basically what we do, and we make sure we reach out to every little town throughout the Verde Valley to ensure we are reaching people in need and help to solve problems.”
Realizing that elderly people often want to stay in their home, the place they love, Ellsworth said, “We help those who are trying to make it on their own.”
“We don’t charge the people we serve, they’re struggling right now, they’re unable to drive due to health conditions at an advanced age, the last thing they need is somebody charging them for the next bit of help. So, what we want to do is make sure there are no barriers to getting them the assistance they need.”
Medical alert devices are also provided at no charge. “Our dispatch is available from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.,” said Ellsworth.
“They are the nicest people and I’m so grateful for them,” said VVCC client Lynn Newman, who has lived in Sedona for 23 years. “If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be able to move. They have been taking me to my physical therapy appointments every week since 2020.”
New to VVCC is a partnership with Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) to provide virtual care assistance to NAH patients who need help with telehealth appointments. The program will provide the device, software and volunteer staff assistance enabling patients to have telehealth appointments with their health care providers.
“We are grateful to be able to partner with the volunteers at VVCC on this program that will increase access to care for many patients that have difficulties leaving their homes for their medical appointments or experience challenges with technology,” said NAH Director of Telehealth Systems Travis Boren.
Transportation services extend as far north as Flagstaff and south to the Phoenix metro area. Ellsworth estimates that just this year alone, staff and volunteer drivers have driven nearly 500,000 miles.
After retiring, John Wozniak was looking for something to occupy his time, so he volunteered to be a driver with VVCC. “I wanted to help people and this opportunity came up. The people are very grateful and happy to have someone to take them places. It makes you feel like you’re giving back.” Wozniak volunteers three or four days a week and has been a volunteer driver for six years.
“We have so many people we are serving right now who need to get to dialysis. If they had to pay out-of-pocket, it would cost them at least $120 a day for a round-trip,” said Ellsworth.
“We are also funded by grantors and receive governmental and municipal contracts such as from Arizona Department of Transportation and the cities of Sedona and Cottonwood,” said Development and Communications Manager Linda Clark.
The VVCC staff includes 13 and 180 volunteers. “We cater to individuals with disabilities as well as the elderly,” said Ellsworth.
“I just love working here,” said VVCC Call Specialist Veloy Habinck, who has worked at VVCC since 2017. “I’m a team leader and my responsibilities are making sure we’re all on the same page here by keeping systems updated and distributed properly.”
Verde Valley Caregivers was founded in 1992 by a coalition of Sedona churches, City of Sedona, Kachina Point (assisted living facility), and Verde Valley Medical Center. QCBN
By V. Ronnie Tierney, QCBN
To contact VVCC, call 928-204-1238 or go to vvcaregivers.org.
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