Recollections Volunteer

Role Description

Title: Recollections Volunteer
Location: ASNR Office - 1-403 Ontario Street, St. Catharines, Ontario L2N 1L5
Assigned Supervisor: Coordinator of Volunteer Programs
Time Commitment: 8-week session – 2 hours per week (1 with client, 1 editing)

Role Summary

The Recollections Volunteer is to work one-on-one with an individual living with dementia to assist. them in completing and creating a lasting 10-to-20-page Life Story book. They are willing to share their time to make a difference in the life of an individual diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia. Volunteers meet a client once per week at our offices. 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 Recollections.

Primary Responsibilities

• Engage client through socialization and meaningful activity kit for program duration
• Meet with a client at the Alzheimer Society of Niagara Region office once a week
• Develop 1 page per week of the life story book, using the Recollection Program guidelines and
• computerized life stories template
• Compile notes captured from client portion each week in second half of volunteer session into the document ready for review the following week
• Follow the guidelines in the program outline

Qualifications 

• Have a warm and caring personality
• Be reliable and flexible
• Be able to communicate with others on a one-to-one basis in an understanding, caring and sensitive manner
• Excellent communication and active listening skills
• Skilled at initiating conversations and engaging clients in social activities
• Ability to listen objectively and be tolerant of others’ cultural, religious or lifestyle beliefs and
• attitudes
• Interest in other people and what is important to them
• Have a sincere interest in working with adults or seniors with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's or dementia
• Experience working with persons with dementia and their care partners is an asset
• Strong organizational abilities

Boundaries

• Must not administer medication or provide medication prompts
• Must not provide clients with any type of personal care or medical advice
• Must not accept private work and/or gifts from a client, including money
• 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

• 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

Training Requirements

• Orientation to agency, ASNR programs, policies, and procedures
• Online ALZEducate Modules, AODA and WHMIS training
• Completion of Volunteer Workshop
• Review of Recollection Program manual

Benefits

Volunteer

• Completion and certificates of training programs
• Support a cause that you believe in
• Develop new and transferable skills
• Learn new skills and discover new talents
• Use your professional skills in a new setting
• Meet other people who share your interests and passions
• Work with other members of the team to achieve a specific goal
• 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 with a client
• Reliable transportation to ASNR Office
• Completing Police Vulnerable Sector Clearance
• Everyday risks or discomforts typical of an office environment will require safety precautions including the use of safe work place practices with office equipment, proper ergonomics, etc.
• Physical demands representative in this role may include periods of visual concentration; extended periods of sitting in a stationary position, and standing
• Equipment is utilized which is common to the office work environment (examples include computer, printer, photocopier, multi-line telephone, fax machine, elevator etc.)

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.