Volunteering in Sarnia-Lambton

VOLUNTEERING: A Great Way To Grow

SMART Group Fitness Instructor

Movement can be a lot more fun as a group but many seniors are unable to follow the intensity of a regular aerobics or other fitness class.  SMART classes are designed for seniors whether they need to complete the exercises in a chair, are able to stand and move or require a balance between the two.  VON will provide training and support for volunteers willing to lead a class in an apartment building, church or other facility close to where seniors live!

Big Buddy for Children’s Summer Reading Buddies program

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Volunteer Visitor

It’s been a lonely couple of years for many people but especially our senior population.  It’s finally time to start visiting again!  Would you be willing to visit a lonely and isolated senior on a weekly basis?  Right now you can only visit them in their home but as restrictions lesson you can take them out to help with errands, go for a drive, or have a cuppa joe.  Our clients have lived productive lives but now find themselves alone and staring at the walls, unable to get out without a friend.  They have much to offer someone who takes time to listen!

Standardized Patient / Actor

The Actor Program is a program within the division Academic Excellence and Teaching Innovation, within the Centre for Simulation and Experiential Learning at Lambton College. A Standardized Participant (SP) is an individual who has a willingness to work with students and share their authentic experiences. Volunteers are not required to have a medical condition in order to participate. These volunteers provide faculty and students opportunities to teach, assess, and refine a variety of skills, including communication, interview, diagnostic, and clinical skills.

Students are beginning their learning and use interview skills to examine the health, social, and psychological aspects of a volunteer’s experience with health (either their own or if they have acted as a caregiver). Participants control the depth of information they provide and students, bound by the Health Professional’s Code of Ethics, must keep all video and print information in the strictest of confidence. The use of pseudonyms is required in any written work that the students submit to the supervising faculty.

The Actor Program is a fundamental resource for the curriculum. Our goal is to provide hands-on learning in controlled, simulated environments for our students. Working with standardized participants or SPs allows students to learn and explore a variety of techniques without causing harm.

Duties Include:

For high school students these activities can contribute towards the mandatory community service hours required for graduation.
Post-secondary students at institutions like Lambton College, volunteering can earn credits for their Co-Curricular Record (CCR).

Telephone Visitor

We provide telephone visits to individuals who are waiting for a volunteer visitor to come to their home weekly.  Volunteers simply call to have a chat and keep in touch.  Calls may vary from 5-30 minutes depending on the individuals and situation.  Telephone visitors call at least twice a month but if the client is lonely they may call as often as twice a week.  Volunteers may choose to have from one to six clients on their call list and call the same people each month to establish  a relationship.

SMART In-Home Exercise Volunteer

Many seniors are not able to get out of their home to exercise or attend fitness classes.  SMART volunteers visit a senior in their home once a week for twelve weeks to complete a simple exercise routine of set stretches and exercises that have been designed to prevent falls.  There is no floor work or exercises with weights.  Clients are expected to complete the exercise regime at least once on their own between visits.  By the end of the twelve weeks clients have established an exercise routine that they can accomplish independently and safely!

Caregiver Respite Visitor

Whether caring for a loved one who has dementia or another medical condition, caregivers often hesitate or simply cannot leave their loved ones alone.  Our respite visitors visit the home once a week to provide a couple of hours of respite so the caregiver can freely get out to do whatever will re-energize them!  Volunteers do not provide medical care but are watchful eyes and ears to summon help if needed.  Depending on the health status of the client they may stay in and visit, play cards, go for a walk, do some shopping, have coffee or even take a trip to the bridge!

HELP Program

HELP is a program that serves our older patients (70+) who are at risk of experiencing a delirium (sudden onset of confusion) and functional decline while in hospital.

With direction from the Elder Life Specialist, volunteers provide patients with engaging activities and ensure that patients are comfortable and oriented to their surroundings. As a HELP volunteer, you will assist with providing patients with four interventions activities.

  1. Daily Visitor and Orientation – provide daily orientation with newspapers, cards from family and friends and orienting conversations.
  2. Therapeutic Activities – crossword puzzles, word searches, word puzzles, Montessori activities, reminiscing activities and games.
  3. Active Range of Motion Exercise – active range of motion exercises to keep them physically active (as directed by a physiotherapist).
  4.  Meal Assistance – help fill out menu choices, open packaging, set-up of the meal tray, provide feeding assistance, companionship and encouragement during mealtime.

HELP volunteers are required to participate in HELP volunteer training which includes:

After completing the training, volunteers are assigned one 3-4 hour shift per week.

 

 

Administrative Office Support Volunteer

Administrative Office Support volunteers needed to assist with a variety of administrative tasks.  

Assist our clientele by answering phones and directing calls to the appropriate department.  Filing, copying, stuffing envelopes, data entry and various duties as needed.  Some roles require intermediate computer skills, while others require good organizational skills and being detail-oriented.  Tasks are variable based on deadlines.

 

Bingo Volunteer

Lambton Elderly Outreach is currently looking for people to aid in their fundraising efforts through Bingo.

Volunteering for BINGO is so easy!  Gone are the days of being a ‘runner’ because everything is done electronically so that all that is involved is clearing tables and promoting LEO.  A short 30-minute training session is required and 2 hours of your time (hours are flexible) which provides the organization with BINGO shares.  It’s a fantastic fundraiser!

Bingo sessions occur two (2), to three (3) times a month for two (2) hours slots.

No handling of cash is required.

Dress code is in effect as per OLG, and OCGA regulations. Black pants and we will provide a golf shirt.

Come out and chat with the players and enjoy time with the other volunteer at the session.