Volunteers make big difference in long-term care
Wednesday September 5, 2007 -- Deron Hamel
Volunteers at long-term care homes not only have a positive impact on the residents they visit, but also free up time for staff members so they can tend to residents most in need of special care, says Eva Touchburn, program assistant at Extendicare Kawartha Lakes in Lindsay.

“We couldn’t get by without them,” says Touchburn, when asked about the impact volunteers have on residents and staff in long-term care homes.

Volunteers are especially helpful to residents who are room-bound, says Touchburn. Because these residents have limited interaction with others, volunteers fill a big gap.

And it’s not just residents who feel the benefits that volunteers bring to homes, says Touchburn. The value-added time volunteers provide residents allows more time for staff members to spend with other residents and to catch up on other work.

“With all the paperwork we have to do nowadays, every little minute we have counts,” she notes.

Aside from spending one-on-one time with residents, other activities long-term care homes need volunteers for include assisting with outings, helping with resident and family councils as well as portering residents.

And who exactly makes a good volunteer?

“One who is dedicated and willing to give up their time on a regular basis,” says Touchburn.

Although people don’t necessarily have to volunteer a lot of their time, Touchburn stresses that if a person makes a commitment, they stick to it. Students, for example, often come in and do placements but as soon as their required time has been spent at the home, they don’t come back.

This can be difficult for residents, as they become attached to volunteers, Touchburn points out.

It’s also important that volunteers who cannot make it in for a shift let staff know they will be absent. If residents are looking forward to an activity being run by a volunteer and the person doesn’t show, it can upset them.

“It’s very disappointing for residents if you have to say ‘sorry, no program today because somebody didn’t show up,’” says Touchburn.

Although people from all age groups are welcome to volunteer, Touchburn says people in their retirement years usually have the most time to dedicate to volunteering.

Anyone interested in volunteering at a long-term care home can get more information by visiting the following sites:

Extendicare
OMNI
Leisureworld
Central Park Lodges
Jarlette