Meaningful Visit Volunteer

Role Description

Title: Meaningful Visit Volunteer
Location: Throughout the Niagara Region matched to Clients in residence
Assigned Supervisor: Coordinator of Volunteer Programs
Time Commitment: 1 hour each week for 10-week commitment

Role Summary

Meaningful Visit Volunteers are willing to share their time to make a difference in the life of an individual diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. Volunteers visit clients once per week in the client’s home. The volunteer will engage the client in a meaningful activity during their visit.

Volunteers use interview guides to explore the person living with dementia’s leisure preferences. Using the client preferences and leisure activities questionnaire, a kit is created that can be used for engagement activities during their visits and remains with the client at the end of the program for continued engagement.

Click here to learn more about the Meaningful Visits Program.

Primary Responsibilities

• Engage client through socialization and meaningful activity kit for program duration
• Follow the guidelines in the program visit outline
• Visit the client regularly, 1 hour per week for 14 weeks during a mutually agreeable time and day. Report any observations, comments or concerns regarding the client or the match to the assigned supervisor
• Call client ahead of time if for any reason a visit time needs to be postponed or rescheduled
• Inform assigned supervisor as to any changes in the client's or volunteer’s situation, which would affect the visiting; this includes address changes, holidays, illness, etc.
• Report volunteer hours, through the online form or by direct email to the Coordinator of Volunteer

Boundaries 

• Must not administer medication or provide medication prompts
• Must not provide clients with any type of personal care or medical advice
  • Note: manicures are permitted
• Must not transport a client in their own vehicle or ride in the vehicle of a client
• Must not accept private work and/or gifts from a client, including money
• Be responsible for household duties (i.e. house cleaning/maintenance)
  • Note: Assisting with the clean-up of the Meaningful Activities is permitted, including dishes if necessary
• Not discuss or participate in any financial decisions
• Not be responsible for the safety or security of animals or clean up animal waste
• Do not purchase items on behalf of a client
• Must not lift or transfer clients
• Provide clients with personal address information
• Health Guidelines must be followed or exceeded
• Do not give the client or care partner your personal contact information, or that of anyone else

Screening Requirements

• Screening Requirements
• Complete an application
• Attend a One-to-one interview
• Provide two References
• Obtain a complete and clear Police Vulnerable Sector Check
• Must be 18+ years of age

Benefits

Volunteer

• Completion and certificates of training programs
• Make social connections
• Meet other people who share your interests and passions
• Develop new and transferable skills
• Use your professional skills in a new setting
• Build your network and establish contacts in your field of interest
• Reference available upon request
• Annual Volunteer appreciation events and acknowledgement of service

Society

• Help make life better for those living with dementia
• Improve the quality of life for persons living with dementia, and their care partners

Community

• Encourage community connections
• Help improve the quality of community life
• Work to alleviate the personal and social consequences of Alzheimer disease and related dementia

Challenges

• Volunteering independently one to one in the community
• Reliable transportation to matched client’s residence
• Completing Police Vulnerable Sector Clearance

Evaluation

The Coordinator of Volunteer Programs will be responsible for providing feedback to the volunteers in such a way that will allow the volunteer to grow and learn as part of their role. Once per year, volunteers who volunteer in this role in an ongoing capacity or in service for more than 1 year will partake in an annual review with the Coordinator of Volunteer Programs. If a volunteer with less than 1-year requests annual review one will be provided.

Success

The Society acknowledges the contributions of volunteers using methods of recognition that are meaningful and respectful of cultural differences and are committed to continuous quality improvement, which can be best achieved by encouraging feedback.

Recognizing the hard work and dedication of volunteers is very important to the Society.

Volunteers will receive ongoing support and regular recognition in various ways.

Risk Assessment

A Risk Assessment of this role has been completed. In keeping with our Risk Management Framework every effort has been made to ensure the safety of the volunteer, client, care partners and staff during the engagement of this role.