Volunteer Advocates for Seniors and Incapacitated Adults helps enhance an individual’s quality of life by making decisions on that person’s behalf that reflect as much as possible their own choices and preferences.

Thrive Alliance is holding an informational session for those who may be interested in serving as volunteer advocates.

A virtual session is being offered at 5 p.m. Thursday via Zoom. For information about the sessions and the VASIA program and to reserve a spot in the session, email [email protected] or call 812-372-6918. Sign-in information will be provided when interested individuals sign up.

The program recruits, trains and supervises volunteers to provide support and advocacy to those who are unable to care for themselves.

VASIA volunteers are caring individuals who are interested in helping others, have a life or work experience with older or disabled adults, have the ability to commit to the time required, can follow guidelines and instructions and have the ability to exercise sound decision-making.

They also must be at least 21 years old, have no criminal history or social services history of violence and successfully complete the application and screening process that includes providing three references, authorizations for release of criminal, driving and social services histories and able to complete the required training.

Volunteers maintain regular contact with the adult who is incapacitated. This regular involvement will allow the volunteer to attend and participate in care planning conferences, health care decisions and take steps to ensure that services are being provided in the most appropriate manner.

Guided by the vision that everyone has the opportunity to live a secure, engaged and independent life, Thrive Alliance’s mission is to improve the quality of life and health for people at risk of losing their independence.

The agency helps people get the right information, resources and support needed to live as independently as possible. Its network of programs focuses on issues related to affordable housing, caregiver support and services, nutrition and wellness programs, transportation and accessibility services and fostering communitywide support for aging related issues.

Thrive Alliance serves as Indiana’s Agency on Aging for Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson and Jennings counties.