Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) is seeking volunteers to assist with their new Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP).
The program, designed to prevent confusion and physical deconditioning for elderly patients in hospital, is scheduled to launch this autumn on the Medicine Unit.
Hospital officials say elderly patients are at a high risk of becoming sedentary and confused while in hospital.
This may cause additional health issues and a longer stay in hospital.
HELP is an approach to care for patients over 70 years of age that supports these patients to stay oriented to their surroundings, meet their nutrition, hydration and sleep needs and stay active and engaged.
The support provided through HELP is designed to assist patients in achieving a successful recovery and return back home.
“CKHA is currently recruiting volunteers who are passionate about making a difference in people’s lives for the Hospital Elder Life Program,” stated Jackie Doyle, Elder Life Specialist, CKHA, in a media release.
“Volunteering with HELP is a great way to make a meaningful impact on someone’s life and an excellent opportunity to build upon career ambitions in the medical field.”
Volunteers with HELP will engage patients in targeted interaction tasks intended to be done through social interaction.
Each task has a specific purpose aimed to lessen the risk of patients becoming confused or weaker and align with senior friendly focuses of care: Up and Oriented, Up and Engaged, Up and Moving, Nourishment Support and Sleep Enhancement.
Targeted interaction tasks may range from socializing with trivia or word puzzles, to encouraging patients to keep moving and avoid being sedentary and sleeping throughout the day.
To accomplish this, volunteers will receive specialized training and support from CKHA’s Elder Life Specialist. Volunteers are asked to commit to a four-hour shift, once a week.
“Volunteers play an important role at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance and the Hospital Elder Life Program is another wonderful way for volunteers to make a difference to patients at CKHA,” stated Lisa Northcott, VP, Chief Nursing Executive and Chief of Professional Practice, CKHA, in a press release.
For more information about HELP and volunteering with the program, please take a moment to watch this video:
Interested applicants are encouraged to submit an application to Jackie Doyle, Elder Life Specialist by September 14, 2018.
Applications are available online at www.ckha.on.ca/help.
