A VOUCHER INSURANCE PLAN TO MOBILIZE VOLUNTEER SUPPORT AMONG THE ELDERLY

IN THIS PROPOSAL, A PHASE I PLANNING STRATEGY IS DESCRIBED TO DEVELOP A VOUCHER INSURANCE PLAN (VIP) TO MOBILIZE VOLUNTARY SUPPORT SERVICES AMONG THE ELDERLY MEDICARE-ELIGIBLE MEMBERSHIP OF SOCIAL CLUBS, TRADE UNIONS, CHURCHES, AND RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES. THE PLAN IS DESIGNED TO OPERATE LIKE AN INSURANCE PLAN. FOR EACH UNIT OF SERVICE PERFORMED, THE VOLUNTEER WILL RECEIVE A VOUCHER ENTITLING HIM OR HER TO AN EQUIVALENT AMOUNT OF SERVICE. THE VOUCHER MAY BE EXCHANGED AND EVEN CASHED OUT. A PROFESSIONAL HEALTH CARE ASSESSMENT AND TRAINING COMPONENT WILL BE ADDED TO SUPPORT THE ALTRUISTIC/SELF-INTERESTED MOTIVATED VOLUNTEER BEHAVIOR. THE BASIC OBJECTIVE OF PHASE I IS TO DERIVE EMPIRICALLY SOUND MAXIMUM LIKELIHOOD ESTIMATES USING CONDITIONAL LOGIT ANALYSIS OF VIP COMPONENTS SUCH AS MEMBERSHIP DUES KINDS AND VALUES OF VARIOUS SERVICES, CASHING-OUT VALUES AND VOUCHER CIRCULATION PATTERNS. THESE RESULTS WILL FORM THE EMPIRICAL BASE OF VIP POLICY AND PROCEDURES TO BE EXTENSIVELY TESTED DURING PHASE II AND MARKETED TO VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS WITH GEOGRAPHICALLY STABLE ELDERLY POPULATIONS DURING PHASE III. SAN FRANCISCO HOME HEALTH SERVICE WITH ITS 4,000-MEMBER SENIOR CENTER WILL COOPERATE WITH BPA IN ALL PHASES.