Location: Offsite from the Bernard Betel Centre; The volunteer will visit the client in their home, apartment, assisted living facility, or community housing.

Goal of the Position: The Bernard Betel Centre provides exemplary and multilingual educational, cultural, and wellness programs in a safe and supportive environment to encourage healthy, active, and creative living for individuals 55+. The friendly visitor will provide one-to-one companionship to isolated or homebound seniors. The goal is to alleviate loneliness and isolation and promote well-being by developing a rapport with the seniors they visit.

Position Responsibilities:

• Engages in conversation and stimulates social interaction with the senior.
• Participates in activities stimulating the senior’s interests, including card games, puzzles, or watching television.
• Completes “Visitor” Hour Record Sheet and forwards it to the Coordinator of Community Services and Support monthly.
• Reports any experiences of mental, emotional, or physical distress from participating in visits with the senior.
• Coordinates their travel to and from the seniors’ residence by car or public transportation.
  

Position Boundaries:

• The friendly visitor remains in the senior’s home or apartment during the visit and does not drive or transport the senior to other locations. With consent from the client and approval from the Coordinator of Community Services and Support, the friendly visitor is permitted to take the senior outside for fresh air or short walks or to meet the senior at a location in the community, such as a park or a coffee shop.
• The friendly visitor does not assist the senior in any activities of daily living, such as showering or using the bathroom.
• The friendly visitor does not operate the senior’s kitchen appliances, but can provide a glass of water to the senior.
• The friendly visitor cannot perform any first aid or emergency services and must call 911.
• The friendly visitor cannot assist or supervise the senior with financial documentation or planning, accessing online accounts, including social media and banking, or accessing private or confidential information, including that of a legal nature.
• The friendly visitor must maintain personal space and reasonable physical proximity from the senior.

Qualifications:

• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Demonstration of compassion and patience
• Knowledge of the Russian or Hebrew languages is a strong asset
• Knowledge of Jewish customs and traditions is a strong asset
• Experience working with isolated or homebound seniors is an asset
• Experience working with early stage dementia is an asset
• Access to a vehicle is an asset

Other Requirements:

• Completion of Vulnerable Sector Screening with the local police department
• Two professional references

Training & Supervision:

Reports to the Coordinator of Community Services and Support on issues or difficulties with the client.
Report issues or difficulties with the Bernard Betel Centre volunteer program to the Manager of Volunteer Services. The friendly visitor will be connected to the client’s address and location. While the friendly visitor is at the client’s residence, there will be no direct supervision during the visit. However, friendly visitors are encouraged to contact staff support by phone for immediate assistance with volunteer or client issues or difficulties.

The friendly visitor will be responsible for:

• Completion of the Bernard Betel Centre’s Friendly Visitor Training program
  

Time Commitment:

• Consistent, weekly availability
• Preferably 1-2 hours a week during weekday hours; specific days or hours are arranged between the volunteer and the client (or client’s family).
• 6-month commitment
  

Benefits: 

• Develop customer service skills and experience working with older adults.
• Develop skills related to social services, social work, personal support care, or disability services.
• Reimbursement for vulnerable sector screening costs.
• Receive formal recognition during National Volunteer Week and at the Annual Volunteer Dinner, in addition to informal appreciation throughout the year.