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 Offering a one year commitment once trained and matched with a resident 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 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, contact Jenessa at Jenessa.Noviello@mssociety.ca or call 250-388-6496 ext 7326