Parkinson Canada is recruiting Support Group Facilitators for Orillia, ON.

The Support Group Facilitator plays a critical role in the delivery of support services at community level. Once a month, they create a confidential and welcoming space, where people living with Parkinson’s and/or their care partners can share their experiences and develop supportive relationships in a group setting.

The group meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month from 1:30-3:30 ET.

As a Support Group Facilitator, you bring a keen desire to make a difference in the lives of people affected by Parkinson’s.  Your empathetic approach, enthusiasm for learning, and ability to facilitate discussion about issues related to Parkinson’s are key factors in ensuring that monthly support groups are safe spaces.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please email volunteer@parkinson.ca, or sign up at https://parkinsoncanada.volunteerhub.com/vv2/

We are looking for volunteers to assist with special events with the programs department, taking residents outside, delivering internal mail and various independent programs with residents.

Volunteers can assist with a variety of activities and programs including:  

• Special events and Entertainment
• Community Bus Outings  
• Friendly visits
• Small Group Programs (cards, reading, knitting)
• Special Interest Presentations
• Hair dresser & In home Wellness appointments
• On call Palliative Visits 

This is a remote volunteer position supporting the Guelph-Wellington Community. All shifts and training are completed remotely, therefore, residence in Guelph-Wellington is not a requirement for this position.

Responsibilities:

• Complete outbound and outbound calls with service users residing in the county
• Complete safety/wellness checks, provide medication reminders, and engage in social conversations with vulnerable populations
• Assist with crisis intervention, when presented
• Utilize a strengths-based, solution-focused approach
• Provide external resources and referrals to service users 
• Complete case documentation of all interactions with service users

Volunteers will lead a gentle functional fitness program designed for community members aged 55+.

The purpose of the program is to:
• Increase and maintain strength, coordination, balance and flexibility
• Improve health and energy
• Improve mobility and independence
• Prevent falls and decrease falls risk
• Meet new people and socialize

We are looking for 1/2 hour of music entertainment for our seniors. Weekly or monthly.  
Our community based day program is attended by seniors with dementia.

Be trained to conduct education sessions on fracture prevention to seniors at seniors centres, retirement homes and active living programs.

To attend Board of Directors Meetings. Participate in board activities and decision making.

Be provided names of those who may enjoy visits.

Knock on the resident’s door and introduce yourself and explain the purpose of your visit. Porter when necessary. (if leaving the room to go to another).

Visits last as long as the resident wishes 

Take attendance and give to program staff.

Possibly could bring reading material, listen to music, offer hand massage, offer a manicure, walk, etc.

• Provide regular visits to assigned older adult clients, offering companionship, conversation & engagement in meaningful activities 
• Perform regular outbound phone calls to assigned older adult clients  
• Report any health or safety concerns to the Supervisor 
• Provide monthly activity reports to Supervisor 

Visiting residents residing in long term care, one-on-one. This can include walking with residents inside and outside the facility.

• Supportive of exercise being part of one's lifestyle

• Familiar with osteoarthritis of the hip and/or knee

• Be able to bend and squat repeatedly

• Be able to lift exercise equipment (pedal bikes, risers, chairs)

• Mon and Wed 1:15 to 3:45 pm and/or

• Mon and Fri morning 8:45 to 11:15 am

• Additional time may be helpful to assist those in need of computer registration with GLA:D Canada at BCHC

To Advocate Educate and Celebrate on behalf of the 2SLGBTAI plus community. 

• Help Set up the area according to event, ie. Tables and chairs, or just chairs.
• Decorate room according to the event Ask staff what can be done.
• Knock on each resident’s door and invite them to the program.
• Help bring residents to area
• Help if needed for resident drinks and or snacks
• Support resident(s) to designated area. Take attendance and give to program staff.
• Help clean up area and place tables and chairs back to how was before

Volunteers will be responsable for meeting with a clients weekly or bi-weekly to add enrichment to peoples lives. Clients are blind or have vision loss to some degree, which often requires adpaments to life. Volunteers are required to socialse with them and add normal contact back in their lives after the effects of the pandemic. They can go for walks, visit community gardens, really anything the pair would enjoy. The requirement are up to the two people who are paired. 

Help Senior Wish expand into Simcoe County to ensure that no senior is left isolated, alone and feeling like society has forgotten them. Help is especially needed to prepare for our Christmas Wish program starting in Sept.

Volunteering with Livita Barrington could be 1-3 hours a week, to monthly, we work together to meet both our volunteer requirements.  Some volunteer positions we have currently available are;

Bingo Caller

Assistance with Manicures

Special events Assistance

Art lessons

Musical Afternoon

Baking Program

1:1 Visiting and more

Volunteer in our retail shop, deliver snacks to schools, singsong and party support at seniors centres and so much more.