The Return to Health Volunteer assists isolated seniors following hospitalization in the transition from hospital to home. Volunteers provide non-medical volunteer support for a short-term period, typically between 2 to 12 weeks, as the patient recovers. The goal is to assist in regaining independence.
Volunteer visits are scheduled, typically two hours per week. We provide practical support, encouragement and connections to community resources during the patients’ convalescence. This program is free of charge.
Typical Services Provided By Our Volunteers
- Rides to and accompany to medical appointments
- Grocery shopping or help ordering groceries
- Run errands that can be accomplished within a two-hour time frame, eg. banking/shopping/pick up prescriptions
- Help setting up pre-made meal service
- Assist with HandyDART application, schedule first rides, accompany on the first trip
- Red Cross: pick-up, delivery, drop off small medical equipment
- Companionship: enjoying a laugh, going for a walk, doing a puzzle; reading a book
- Social: Help connect with community services & senior centers
- Mail: help with sorting and prioritizing bills
- Transition to other volunteer agencies on discharge from our program.
We are unable to provide:
Bathing; dressing; medication management; offer medical advice; pushing a wheelchair; lifting clients; cleaning homes or doing laundry, cooking.
Our volunteers have been screened and have passed a Vulnerable Sector Check.
Volunteers are not “on-call” or to be used as an emergency service.
Training and resource tools to address age-related issues are provided on demand and online until we can hold in-class training sessions which are normally are held in March.
If interested in volunteering with us please call 250-413-3211 or fill in our volunteering application to register your interest! Before applying please make sure you are comfortable having an Information Check for Vulnerable Sector done which can be obtained online with your Police Department.
Seniors in Stitches Knitters meet one morning a month on the 2nd Wednesday of the month to socialize, restock their yarn supply and show their knitted items to be donated.
If interested in volunteering with us please call 250-413-3211 or fill in our volunteering application to register your interest! Before applying please make sure you are comfortable having an Information Check for Vulnerable Sector done which can be obtained online with your Police Department.
Would You Like To Volunteer With Us ?
The Return to Health Program is a very unique and flexible volunteering opportunity, you do not need to commit specific days, times or hours.
If interested in volunteering with us please call 250-413-3211 or fill in our volunteering application to register your interest!
Board Member Gwen Gaddes On CBC Radio
Feb 3, 2020 Discussing Volunteering at SSS