The HELP program uses an interdisciplinary
team of volunteers and professionals. Volunteers
must undergo a rigorous hospital training program;
untrained volunteers, such as family members,
are not considered to be a part of the intervention.
Methods of volunteer recruitment are left to the
discretion of the individual hospital. Trained
volunteers can implement many aspects of the
HELP model. Volunteers are used to assist
with the ambulation of patients, offering warm
milk and massages before bed, and providing socialization.
Other members of the HELPteaminclude an elder life nurse specialist, elder life
specialist, geriatrician, programdirector, and interdisciplinary
support staff as needed (including
a chaplain, pharmacist, dietician, rehabilitation
therapists, discharge planner, social worker, and
psychiatric liaison nurse). Each member of the
team works to decrease risk factors for each
patient.