Friendly Visiting Volunteers

The purpose of the program is to improve the quality of life of isolated persons with MS living in long term care, by fostering supportive relationships between a resident and a volunteer. With your help, our goals are: -To reduce social isolation -To provide support, companionship and appropriate activities to residents -To provide information about MS, the MS Society and appropriate community resources -To increase the MS Society's awareness of the needs/issues of individuals living in continuing care The responsibilities of the volunteer include: -Completing all applicable training and forms including a vulnerable sector check -Complying with the MS Society and care centre's policies, procedures and protocols -Providing friendly visiting to a resident at least once per month -Tracking activity and follow up with the program coordinator on a monthly basis or as agreed -Communicating urgent needs and issues immediately to the program coordinator and/or the long term care centre Qualifications: -Background in nursing, social work, social services, psychology, and health care is beneficiary -Volunteers who are looking to make a difference in their community -Volunteers must possess skills in active listening and communication skills, conveying empathy, and relationship building Volunteer benefits: -Improved interpersonal skills including increased empathy, listening and communication skills -Improved problem solving and mediation skills -Increased knowledge of long-term care and disability issues Time commitment: -Approximately 1-3 hours per month -A minimum commitment of 1 year Additional notes: Following the completion of a volunteer application, an interview, and proper screening, the volunteer will receive a general volunteer orientation and will then receive a thorough Friendly Visiting orientation. Once orientation is complete, the volunteer will be trained and matched with a person with MS. This Friendly Visiting partnership will then be monitored by the Community Services Coordinator. To apply, please visit our website or contact Jenessa at Jenessa.Noviello@mssociety.ca / 250-388-6496 ext. 7326