By Paul Falkowski, PhD
President and Founder, National Association of Long-Term Care Volunteers (NALTCV)
I’m excited to share that the National Association of Long-Term Care Volunteers (NALTCV) is now an official Partner with the Validation Training Institute (VTI). This partnership feels like a natural fit, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to introduce our mission and this new collaboration to the Validation community.
About US
NALTCV was founded in 2022 to address a reality that nearly half of the 1.5 million people living in long-term care communities in the U.S. don’t get a visit from anyone. They either have no surviving family or friends or families live at a distance. That kind of loneliness isn’t just sad—it can eat away at a person’s well-being, their sense of purpose, and even their health. It leads to premature death.
The NALTCV is working to change this by creating a national network of volunteers who are trained to build genuine connections with people in long-term care. Our volunteers don’t just drop in for a quick visit—they bring warmth, humor, and a listening ear. They’re there to share real moments, to honor the person sitting across from them, and to remind them they matter.
Why This Matters
There have been stunning moments that really speak to the need. One came as I was visiting with a woman living in a long-term care community. She had been there for about six weeks. I asked her how things were going. She said, “I have a lot of people around me—nurses, aides—but there is no one here just for me.”
Hearing this, I had to catch my breath. That simple phrase summed up so much of what we’re trying to address: it’s not enough to have people bustling around you if no one is truly with you. Being seen, heard, and valued—these are basic human needs that don’t evaporate just because someone moves into a nursing home.
Then there was Clarence. At 92, he was living in a nursing home. One day, as we talked, he turned to me and said, “To be human is to have someone to love and to have someone love you. And as far as I can tell, I am still human.”
Again, profound words. He reminded me that our need to love and be loved never goes away. Living in a nursing home doesn’t change that. It’s what makes us human.
What We Do
Here’s how NALTCV works to fill that gap:
● We train volunteers to create authentic connections, with a focus on active listening and empathy.
● We support volunteer managers in long-term care communities by giving them tools and resources to recruit and train volunteers.
● We highlight stories of volunteers who are making a real difference—to inspire others and keep this movement growing.
● We conduct research to show just how important these visits are for the people living in care.
Why Validation Matters
We are especially happy to be joining forces with VTI because our missions align so beautifully. The Validation method teaches us to respect the reality of people living with cognitive decline, to honor their feelings, and to meet them where they are. That same spirit is what guides our volunteers. We want them to show up with open hearts and curiosity, not with scripts or assumptions.
By partnering with VTI, we’re hoping to weave more Validation principles into our volunteer training. Volunteers who understand the Validation method will be even better equipped to build those real, human connections that matter so much.
Looking Ahead
This partnership comes at a great time. The COVID-19 pandemic made it painfully clear just how cut off people in long-term care can feel. But it also showed us how powerful community-based efforts can be in bridging that gap.
With VTI, we’re excited to:
● Bring Validation-informed practices to our volunteer training.
● Create shared learning opportunities—like webinars and workshops—to spread best practices.
● Encourage a culture of curiosity and compassion that can ripple out to volunteers, staff, and family members.
At the heart of all this is a shared belief: every person in a long-term care community still has so much life, so many stories, and a heart that needs to be seen.
Join Us
I’d love to invite anyone reading this to be part of this work, whether that’s by volunteering, sharing your own stories of meaningful connection, or helping us spread the word. If you’d like to learn more about NALTCV, please visit www.naltcv.org.
Thank you to Vicki and everyone at VTI for welcoming us so warmly. I’m looking forward to what we can create together—one visit, one conversation, one authentic moment at a time.