Return To Health
Return to Health is a free, volunteer-based program of Seniors Serving Seniors, a registered charity in Victoria, British Columbia.
Our senior volunteers support fellow seniors during the critical transition from hospital to home. We provide non-medical and social support, combined with encouragement and vital connections to community resources.
The Return to Health program typically lasts from two to twelve weeks (up to three months).
Leah Song is our Return to Health Community Services Coordinator. An average of 150 clients are supported each year.
Referrals may be emailed to Leah Song at le.song@islandhealth.ca
If you wish to speak to Leah please call 236-464-7172
Our Volunteers can provide
- Transportation: Providing transportation to and from medical appointments.
- Grocery Support: Assistance with groceries, including ordering, shopping, and arranging prepared meal services when needed.
- Errand Assistance: Help with essential errands such as banking, pharmacy trips, shopping, library visits, and delivering personal items to the hospital.
- HandyDART Support: Assistance with HandyDART applications and accompaniment for your first ride if needed.
- Red Cross Equipment: Pickup, delivery, and return of small Red Cross medical equipment (under 20 lbs).
- Companionship: Social connection through conversation, walks, visits, puzzles, reading, and other shared activities.
- Community Connection: Support in linking clients to local community services and seniors’ centres.
- Mail Management: Help with sorting and prioritizing mail, especially following a long hospital stay.
- Agency Transitions: Support with transitions to other volunteer agencies when appropriate.
- Short-Term Pet Care: Dog walking services during your recovery period.
- RebalanceMD Support: Specialized support for RebalanceMD clients, including access to educational videos and transportation to pre- and post-operative appointments.
Our Volunteers cannot provide
- Emergency Support: Includes on-call or emergency response services.
- Medical Care: Includes medical advice, procedures, medication management, and equipment setup.
- Personal Care: Includes bathing, dressing, toileting, lifting, and transfers.
- Household Support: Includes housekeeping (one word), laundry, cooking, and meal preparation.
- Post-Surgical Care: Includes daily visits or overnight stays.
- Specialized Care: Includes dementia, mental health, addiction, long-term, and chronic disease care.
What is Return to Health ?
Would You Like To Volunteer With Us?
The Return to Health Program offers a unique and highly flexible volunteering opportunity. There is no requirement to commit to specific days, times, or hours on a regular basis, making it easy to fit into your lifestyle.
If you are interested in volunteering with us, please call 250-413-3211 or fill in our volunteering application.