A local couple worked together to run a business. One worked on the books and various administrative duties. The other was in charge of day-to-day operations. Unexpectedly, a life-changing turn of events took place. One was diagnosed with a terminal illness and was no longer able to keep up with the business. The other partner struggled do both jobs, keep up with the house, and also to cope with the stress.
The Helping Hub, a new program provided by Crossroads Ministry, connected them to volunteers who were able to provide some support.
“We were able to help with rides to the medical appointments. We were helping with a coach—more of a life coach—to help with financial things,” said Brian Schaffer, executive director of Crossroads. Helping Hub also provided some respite care for the partner who was ill.
In May of 2024, Crossroads started the Helping Hub to provide in-home non-medical assistance to people in the Estes Valley, particularly seniors.
“Our desire is to provide specifically the needs that are somewhat unique to our seniors whether they’re homebound, whether they don’t have a vehicle, whether they don’t have the opportunities to get out and do things,” said Schaffer who identified that isolation is one of the most serious issues many seniors face.
“We want to address those issues that are really focused on our seniors,” echoed Aaron Bojan, the associate director of Crossroads.
According to Schaffer, of the 1,000 clients that Crossroads serves each year, about 180 are eligible for the services provided through the Helping Hub. Most of these individuals are over the age of 65 and Schaffer estimates that the program is currently serving 20 to 25 clients.
“Even though we are focused on seniors, there are people, someone who has cancer, or who is struggling with other needs. We can help them. Sometimes hospice deals with people who are younger than seniors,” Bojan said.
The Helping Hub was started in response to the lack of in-home care in Estes Park. At the end of 2023, Estes Park Health stopped providing in-home hospice care and in-home healthcare. In reaction to the hospital’s decision, a group of individuals met to discuss a way to fill this gap. Brian Schaffer took part in these meetings and proposed the idea of Crossroads servicing as a “hub” to provide in-home non-medical care.
“We already have the structure in place. We have volunteers, we have the resources, we have financial support. And we have the professional staff that can train, do assessments, and mobilize people to meet the needs,” Schaffer said.
There are a few professional homecare services that come to Estes Park from Boulder, Loveland and Fort Collins, but these cost money, and most are not covered by insurance. No other non-profit in the Estes valley offers non-medical in-home care.
The Helping Hub bridges this gap by providing free and volunteer-based services, including transportation, errands, simple assistance with computers and technology, snow shoveling, handy help, light cleaning and organizing, care calls and friendly visits, weekly caregiver respite, and Meals on Wheels.
Crossroads has a van that runs on a specific route for pick-ups and drop-offs in town, and the Helping Hub offers individual rides to appointments in the Estes Valley and to some appointments on the Front Range
“We have known over the last few years that transportation is a big issue, especially for people who just can’t drive anymore. They’re isolated, and then they become lonely and depressed. It just unfolds into other issues in life,” Schaffer said.
Considering the fact that isolation is common among seniors, friendly visits offered through the Helping Hub are important. For many Crossroads clients, their only interaction each day is with the Meals on Wheels drivers, although these interactions are brief, said Schaffer. Helping Hub volunteers are able to offer seniors longer interactions.
One of the major services provided by the Helping Hub is caregiver respite, said Bojan.
“If we have a client who got a hip replacement, they’re 50 years old, and they need someone to come in and do a little bit of cleaning, or do some organizing or some other things, we can provide that help. Or if they have someone at home who’s caring for them, and they need to get away for a couple hours, because it’s a very intensive job helping someone at home, we can send someone in to sit with the person they’re taking care of,” Bojan said.
The Helping Hub is split into two different categories. There is a client side of operations, and a volunteer side of operations. Jess Borries, the client advocate of the Crossroads Ministry, oversees everything concerning prospective clients. Aaron Bojan focuses on the volunteer aspect of the program. Borries communicates the specific needs of clients to Bojan. Bojan then matches volunteers to these needs.
“Jess finds the clients, gets them all set up for what they need, and then I present that need to our volunteers via email. The volunteers will respond back to me what their availability is, or what they are willing to do,” Bojan said.
Bojan runs a variety of background checks on volunteers, to ensure that they are a good fit for the program. He also trains and provides an orientation for volunteers.
Schaffer explained that the Helping Hub is integrated into the Crossroads’ larger mission which is to aid people in need.
In 2023, Crossroads assisted 356 local families with food from its food panty to mental health counseling. The organization distributed 150,142 pounds of food, gave away 394 coats along with winter gear, delivered 4,136 meals through its Meals on Wheels program, provided 148 hours of mental health counseling, and assisted 134 families through a partnership with Bright Christmas.
“We would like to know that all of our neighbors in the Estes valley are well taken care of. That there is no one alone in the struggle. And that they realize that there is a resource they can reach out to, if they need it,” Schaffer said.
To apply for services, click here, or call 970-577-6773 and ask for Aaron Bojan.