Our Volunteers

Elders in Action is powered by the wisdom and talent of our volunteers. People of all backgrounds and experience share their unique skills to improve the lives of others. Enjoy some of their stories on this page.

Personal Advocate Robert Hamilton with Vicki Hersen, Executive Director of Elders in Action

Robert Hamilton

'One-of-a-Kind' Personal Advocate

Elders in Action's Personal Advocate Services is the only program of its kind in Oregon and Robert Hamilton is a one-of-a-kind advocate. As a Personal Advocate, Robert has been trained to provide free personalized assistance for people 60 and older experiencing problems with housing, health care, crime, abuse and fraud. In his five years in the program, Robert has been called upon to work in all those areas. In the past year, he has helped a 65 year-old woman who was being harassed by a predatory bill collector, an 83 year-old disabled woman to set up TriMet Lift service after being denied, and a 88 year-old woman to get the resources to remain living independently in her home. Probably his most notable case was his efforts to assist a 68 year-old man whose specialized service animal of 18 years was killed by pit bull and he couldn't afford to get a new one. Demonstrating the persistence of a bulldog himself, Robert blanketed the West contacting foundations, media outlets, and web services to find his client a new animal. He ultimately found a terrier in Montana that he arranged to have delivered which created a true life happily-ever-after story. As noted in a thank you from Multnomah County Commissioner Deborah Kafoury's office, "Many people said no, but Elders in Action said there's got to be someone who can help and you made a real difference."

Robert's efforts as a Personal Advocate are extraordinary but his true passion is as a community advocate where in 2007 he was awarded Elders in Action's Community Educator of the Year for his expert service at local community outreach and helping consumers know how to avoid identity theft and fraud. He is a major supporter of Ride Connection's Ride Wise program which reaches out to older adults and provides peer support on how to use the TriMet fixed route system. In 2010, he was instrumental in launching a partnership with Multnomah Bar Foundation on a civic education awareness project that enhances citizens' legal knowledge and educates the community on topics such as elder abuse prevention, consumer protection & safety, and end of life planning. He also serves on the board of the Hillsdale Neighborhood Association and a Director for Progressive Health Worldwide whose mission is to bring life-saving resources to children in the developing world who are dying of treatable causes such as malnutrition and tuberculosis. In all his efforts, Robert brings a charm, grace, passion and a great energy for helping those in needs.

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