Ranui, in Alexandra, offers its residents a safe and secure home with great food in a beautiful location in scenic Central Otago. They also provide rest home or hospital level care, dementia care and respite or palliative care. Volunteers are an important part of the home’s community and contribute to healthier, happier living for older people. Residents will love chatting and having a laugh with you as you bring a little bit of the outside world in with you, making conversation about things happening in the community, and sharing your own stories about travel, work or just everyday life!
You can be involved in a variety of ways to suit your skills, talents and interest. Whether you only have a few hours to give, or can assist on a more regular basis, there are fulfilling roles available.
- Friday Happy Hour: 3:00pm - 4:30pm, weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Help with drinks, and socialise with residents- If you can play the piano, it would be great to have you play a few tunes!
- Walking companion: 30mins to 1 hour per week, fortnight or month. Residents enjoy a stroll 'around the block', takes about 10 - 15 minutes. As you get to know the residents you can go further for longer, even add in a coffee stop. Flexible timings possible.
- Activities and van outing assistant: 10am - 3pm, once a month or 6 weeks. You will be an extra set of hands for our Club Enliven activities staff, helping on van outings and with the days activities. Club Enliven offers respite care and social engagement for older people living in their own homes.
- Piano players: 30 mins any day of the week, after 10:30am. This can be as often as you like, daily, weekly, monthly and so on. We have 2 areas with pianos. Music plays a fundamental role in our identity, culture and heritage and can evoke powerful memories and emotions. Music can help seniors and people living with dementia express their feelings, communicate with others, and prompt memories through listening.
Volunteers work alongside staff. You will receive a full orientation and training, and you will always have the support of staff. No two days are the same, time goes very fast and the happy smiles of residents will be your number one reward. Be ready to experience ‘helpers high’. Volunteering can lead to a rush of euphoria and the release of endorphins. This effect is known as ‘helper’s high’!
Requirements
- Compassion, sense of humour, friendliness, patience and understanding of confidentiality
- All volunteers will receive appropriate training and supervision for their role and will be required to sign a Code of Conduct.
- Physically fitness required for Walking Companion role
- All our volunteers need to complete a Police Check
A Police background check is required for this role.
Time commitment
We have a number of roles, ranging from 30mins to 5hrs. Most roles are for 1-2hrs. Volunteer daily, weekly, fortnightly or monthly.
- Friday Happy Hour Helper: 3:00pm - 4:30pm, weekly, fortnightly or monthly
- Walking companion: 30mins to 1 hour per week, fortnight or month- when best suits you. Ideally, you would meet with the occupational therapist between 9am - 11am Monday, Wednesday or Friday, however this is not compulsory.
- Activities and van outing assistant: 10am - 3pm, once a month or 6 weeks, as part of a roster of volunteers
- Piano Players: 30 mins any day of the week, after 10:30am. This can be as often as you like, daily, weekly, monthly and so on.
Getting started
The first step is to express your interest by filling out the form below.
We will then put you in touch directly with the organisation for more information on the role and how to proceed.
Apply for this role:
Dunedin