VFI Adding 'Another Layer to Improve Caregiver Experience'
By Lois Thompson
The Voices For Independence (VFI) facility in Erie has grown so much at its current location, that personnel are excited to be adding another one conveniently situated a block down the street. "This was something we've been eyeing for a long time," said Steve Johnson, director of marketing for VFI in both Washington, PA, and Erie. "We do weekly training for new caregivers and annual recertifications here, and the training room is adequate, but we knew we could do more with more space."
Fortunately for VFI, M Café – a restaurant just a block away from the current VFI building – never reopened after the pandemic, and it was just "sitting there, dormant, as unutilized prime real estate. We thought this would be a perfect opportunity to acquire the building and grow."
The new facility, the VFI Training & Conference Center, has the space to offer hands-on training. Because the building had housed a restaurant, it already had a kitchen that can now be used for specialized cooking classes, giving the trainees more room. Renovations added a mock bedroom. "It has a hospital bed, a TV, a dresser. So when people go in to do training, they will see what real life will be like in the field." The facility also has a mock accessible bathroom, with a tub and roll-in shower.
"We can tell trainees, 'everybody's different, there will be obstacles,' but we'll be able to show that in a different light. 'Here's a situation you'll encounter, this is how you should transfer clients.' It will be close to what they will encounter in the field, rather than working from diagrams or listening to stories from past services."
“I’d go into homes to help individuals, and I’d be flying by the seat of my pants, not knowing what to expect or what the needs were.” He said it seemed as if he spent the entirety of his first shift simply becoming acquainted with the client’s care needs. “It was frustrating to me. That’s why I’m so excited to see that VFI is dedicated to enhancing training for all of our caregivers, both new and experienced.”
He added that any time you're dealing with people's lives, you want to learn as much up front as you can, so that when you get to work, you're doing the best job possible. "It breathes new life into the hands-on aspect."
Johnson said the location of the new building is "simply more accessible and visible to the public and to those attending our trainings." He said the current facility is approximately one block removed from a major bus route. "The VFI Training & Conference Center is on a main road, directly on a bus route, and right next to a local deli where visitors can go for lunch. There will also be adequate parking, so they won't have to think of anything else, they can just focus on training."
Johnson admitted, "At first, I wasn't sure how the new space would be utilized, but seeing that we're using it as an opportunity to expand upon our current training curriculum, it's the best use I could have imagined. It's another layer to improve the caregiver experience. I don't know of another organization that has a dedicated building for enriching the training experience."
For more information, call (724) 223-5115 or visit www.vficil.org.