St Andrew's Anglican Church with funding from Central Lakes Trust provides aged-care support in the Cromwell Community. Their key goals are to support the two Cromwell rest homes in giving pastoral, emotional and where appropriate spiritual care; visit any isolated and lonely folk in the Cromwell Community; and establish other initiatives to bring stimulation to the lives of our aged-care folk.
Their Aged-Care Support Lead Worker is supported by a small but growing team of volunteers to provide a variety of programmes at the rest homes, Cromwell Library, in people's homes and at the Anglican Church Hall. The more people they have assisting, the more aged-care folk they can reach out to.
The role of an Aged-Care Visitor is to have conversations with aged-care folk in the rest homes and in the community.
As part of the Aged-Care Visitor's team you will:
- Shadow the Lead Worker at Ripponburn or Golden View Rest Home for 1-1.5 hours, participating in a conversation to build up relationship with the resident.
- Shadow the Lead Worker at either rest home, joining in the activities happening in their Care Lounge - exercises, games, and so on. This is a way of becoming a familiar face, gradually building up rapport as many of the residents have fading memories.
- As you gain confidence, and this will depend on your level of experience, you will be able to do the above independently.
- As you feel able, you will be able to visit on your preferred day for 1 - 1.5 hours.
- At each visit, talk to a number of people, anywhere from simply saying, "hello" to a more in-depth 10 -20 minute conversation.
- As the team identify more people in the Cromwell Community, they will visit people in their homes, initially in pairs.
Support and Training provided:
- You will build up your kete of listening and starting conversations by shadowing the Lead Aged-Care Support Worker, doing it and through training.
- Once a month they have a meeting of the team of Aged-Care Visitors who share their experiences and train in how to listen effectively to draw out people's feelings in a safe way.
- They will also focus on how to talk to people with fading memories.
- Attendance at their monthly meeting is important so you receive support to safeguard your own well-being.
- You will give feedback to the Lead Support Worker and gain the support you need.
If you feel you are not quite ready - come and shadow the Lead Support Worker and learn through observing in a very safe way, without feeling any pressure to be anything other than yourself. You will get lots of support and you will not be asked to do anything beyond your own comfort zone.
The benefits of volunteering:
- Know you are making a difference in the life of an aged-care person by providing companionship, freshness in your visit, and helping them with their emotions.
- You will gain skills in deep listening as an aged-care visitor.
- You will build up your kete of listening and starting conversations by shadowing the Lead Aged-Care Support Worker, doing it and through training
- Know you are giving much needed support to the lead worker.
- Being part of a small, but growing team of passionate, compassionate people.
- Everything happens in Cromwell so travel is minimal, and you can walk to some of the venues - rest homes, Library or the Anglican Church.
Requirements
- Love of the elderly and an eagerness to listen so they talk.
- A willingness to upskill your listening and questioning skills; and to learn how to approach and talk to people with fading memories.
- Smiley, friendly, and empathetic.
- Someone who feels an inner joy when you know you have helped someone who is vulnerable step a little further through their day, positively.
- Some standing or kneeling required as you talk - it is not always possible to sit down beside the person.
- Confidentiality is paramount; a willingness to be Police Vetted; and to follow Health and Safety procedures are 'must-dos'.
A Police background check is required for this role.
Time commitment
- 1 hour - 1.5 hours, one day per week.
- If you need to be away - this can be worked around with other volunteers as they work as a team.
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