Be A Cassellholme Volunteer
"Volunteers A Work of Heart"
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Cassellholme
Volunteer Philosophy
Volunteers significantly
enhance the quality of life, community spirit, and leisure time
opportunities at Cassellholme. Volunteers are a valuable human resource
requiring support and encouragement to maintain and develop their skills,
and to ensure their continued involvement in the provision of their
valuable services throughout the home. |
The Volunteer Process
What you Gain as a Volunteer
Employer-supported Volunteerism
Youth/Student Volunteer Program
Cooperative and
Placement Education Opportunities
Volunteer Opportunities
- Fill in the
Volunteer Application form you can obtain from the Volunteer Office at
Cassellholme.
- Contact the
Volunteer Coordinator at 474-4250 ext.223 to schedule an interview.
- After completion of
the interview, personal references that have been provided on the
application will be checked.
- Upon successful
completion of interview and reference checks, you will be required to
complete a 2 hour training session in order to begin volunteering.
- Every volunteer aged 18
and over will be required to provide a criminal reference check (CPIC)
before they start volunteering. Upon submission of the receipt, expenses
incurred from the CPIC will be reimbursed.
Call the Volunteer Services department
at 474-4250 Ext. 223
Or e-mail our
volunteer coordinator, Mandy Gilchrist (gilchristm@cassellholme.on.ca),
for more information.
Download a copy of our Volunteer
Application
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Volunteering creates
opportunities for the residents of our home. Volunteers help improve the quality of
life for the residents and, in turn, improve the quality of their own lives.
Volunteering is a fun way
to spend spare time, it looks great on a resume, and it’s an incredibly special
way to contribute to your community.
What you gain as a
volunteer:
-
Giving to community
-
Meeting new people
-
Building your resume
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Helping seniors
“Every man is born into the world to do
something unique and something distinctive, and if he or she doesn’t do it, it
will never get done.”
Benjamin Mays (Educator)
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Canada is beginning to see
an important rising trend concerning employer-supported volunteerism.
Nationally, companies are advising and encouraging their employees to be
active humanitarians within their communities.
When a company supports employee
volunteerism, it sends a clear and significant message to the community that they
are aware of its needs. It also creates fosters a team mentality in the work environment. When employees take
active voluntary roles in the community, they increase staff moral, bring
attention to their business or company, and feel a sense of pride for their
workplace.
At Cassellholme there are many
opportunities for local companies or businesses to donate their time. Donations
are always appreciated, but the gift of your time is also needed. Groups
of employees or individuals can donate their time to help the seniors actively
participate in recreational programming, providing comfortable dining
experiences, and by becoming one-to-one visitors for residents in need.
Cassellholme offers many opportunities to
suit the needs and wants of the residents and the volunteers.
Call today to learn more about this
exciting initiative. Let’s work together and really make a difference.
For more information please contact the
Cassellholme Volunteer Coordinator at 474-4250 ext. 223.
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Students 12 and up are encouraged to give their time as a volunteer to
Cassellholme. Many students have come to give time and complete their high
school community hours. Several of the activity programs are geared toward students. The
activities occur throughout the month, after school, and on evenings and weekends
during the academic year. Summer is also a great time to volunteer. New and exciting
activities are offered and there is a lot of fun to be had! The programs are
directed by an activity professional but require volunteers to be successful.
If
you have time to give, your contribution to the seniors in
your community is greatly needed and appreciated.
“The manner of giving
is worth more than the gift.”
S. Pierre Corneille (Playwright)
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Cassellholme supports
many placement and cooperative education programs.
We provide a meaningful
experience that reaches the educational outcomes of the student's designated
program.
We have provided
placements for:
-
High school cooperative education
-
PSW community hours
-
Paramedic program community hours
-
Activation and techniques in gerontology
placement
-
Recreation and Leisure placements
-
Social work/social service workers
placements and community hours
-
Ontario Works placements
Call the volunteer
coordinator at 474-4250 ext 223 for more information
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Program Purpose:
- To provide residents in the Castle Arms Apartments the opportunity to
share a Thursday lunch or Friday dinner with fellow residents.
Qualifications:
- An interest in the program.
- Able to honour a weekly commitment.
Time Requirements:
- 2 to 3 hours per week.
- This is a consistent program. Lunches are served the first 3 Thursdays
of each month, and dinners are served every Friday.
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Program Purpose:
- To assist in providing the resident an opportunity to enhance his or her
quality of life with activities in individual, small and large groups.
Qualifications:
- Interest in the program.
- Able to honour a consistent commitment.
- Able to porter (push a wheelchair).
Possible Activities:
- Birthday Parties
- Ice-cream Socials
- Afternoon Teas
- Monthly Theme
Parties
- Shopping
- Barbeques
- Special Meals
Time Requirements:
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Program Purpose:
- To assist in providing the residents with an opportunity to enjoy bingo
within Cassellholme.
Qualifications:
- Interest in the program.
- Able to honour a consistent weekly commitment.
- Able to porter (push a wheelchair).
Time Requirements:
- 2 to 3 hours per week, usually on Tuesday afternoons or Thursday evenings.
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Program Purpose:
- To assist in providing the residents an opportunity to enjoy doing
crafts.
Qualifications:
- Interest in the program.
- Able to honour a consistent weekly commitment.
- Able to porter (push a wheelchair).
Time Requirements:
- Once a week, usually 1 to 2 hours.
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Program Purpose:
- To feed the resident and provide one-to-one visit that will enhance
the dining experience for the resident.
Qualifications:
- Interest in the program.
- Able to honour a consistent commitment.
Time Requirements:
- 1 to 2 hours per week or more.
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Program Purpose:
- To assist in providing the residents with an opportunity to enjoy a very
light exercise program.
Qualifications:
- Interest in the program.
- Able to honour a consistent weekly commitment.
- Able to porter (push a wheelchair).
- Able to participate in a very light exercise program.
Time Requirements:
- One morning or afternoon a week.
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Program Purpose:
- To play games and cards one-on-one with a resident or with a small group
of residents.
Qualifications:
- Interest in the program.
- Able to honour a weekly commitment.
- Enjoy the company of seniors.
- Able to play a wide variety of card games and board games.
Time Requirements:
- Once a week, usually 1 to 2 hours.
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Program Purpose:
- To assist in providing the resident with an opportunity to enjoy the
company of fellow residents and enjoy an alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage
(limit 2 drinks per resident).
Qualifications:
- Comfortable with serving alcohol to the residents.
- Comfortable with handling cash.
- Be prepared to take the Smart Serve certification.
- Able to honour a consistent commitment.
- Able to porter (push a wheelchair).
Time Requirements:
- Program occurs every Monday afternoon.
- Volunteers can choose to
attend all or just one.
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Program Purpose:
- To assist in providing the resident with an opportunity to enjoy hymns.
Qualifications:
- Interest in the program.
- Able to honour a consistent weekly commitment.
- Able to porter (push a wheelchair).
Time Requirements:
- Program occurs each Wednesday morning, except during the summer season.
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Program Purpose:
- To provide the resident an opportunity to enhance his or her quality of
life by listening to musicians play an instrument or sing.
Qualifications:
- Interest in the program.
- Able to honour a consistent commitment.
Possible Activities:
- One-on-one friendly visiting with a resident.
- Playing for
small groups of residents for unit activities.
- Playing for
larger groups of residents for global activities.
Time Requirements:
- Varies
- Possibilities for a consistent weekly or monthly commitment
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Program Purpose:
- To assist in providing the residents with an opportunity to discuss
current events, local news, horoscopes, etc.
Qualifications:
- Interest in the program.
- Able to honour a consistent weekly commitment.
- Able to porter (push a wheelchair).
Time Requirements:
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Program Purpose:
- Journey with Palliative residents; provide comfort and support to
resident and family.
Qualifications:
- Orientation to Palliative Care – Canadore College.
Time Requirements:
- As needed.
- Reports to the Pastoral Care Coordinator
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Program Purpose:
- To paint the resident’s fingernails while providing one-to-one
visits with the resident.
Qualifications:
- Interest in the program.
- Able to honour a consistent commitment.
- Enjoy talking to seniors.
- Able to porter (push a wheelchair)
Time Requirements:
- 2 to 3 hours per week.
- Wednesday - 4 p.m.
- Thursday - 9 a.m.
- Friday - 9 a.m. and 9:50 a.m.
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Program Purpose:
- To provide spiritual and religious support to the resident.
Qualifications:
- Endorsement by church or clergy.
- Some background training or experience in pastoral care.
Time Requirements:
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Program Purpose:
- To provide the residents with an opportunity to be visited by a pet and
its owner.
Qualifications:
- Owner of a well-behaved pet that is up-to-date on vaccinations.
- Able to honour a consistent commitment.
Time Requirements:
- 2 to 3 hours every 2 weeks, or 2 to 3 hours a month.
- The schedule is a little flexible, it is however very important to be
consistent.
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Program Purpose:
- To assist in providing the resident with an opportunity to enhance his
or her quality of life by going for a short walk.
Qualifications:
- Interest in the program.
- Able to honour a consistent commitment.
- Need to be able to interact with the resident.
- Able to porter (push a wheelchair).
Time Requirements:
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Purpose:
- To maintain a therapeutic one-to-one relationship with the residents.
The volunteer will visit one-to-one with a resident or residents in order to
enhance the resident's quality of life.
Qualifications:
- Interested in the one-to-one friendly visiting program.
- Volunteer is to be outgoing, talkative, and able to take initiative.
- Able to honour a consistent commitment.
Suggestions while visiting:
- Go for a walk
- Play cards or games
- Help write letters
- Read a book or newspaper
- Visit the library on Apple Street
- Take resident out to the gardens
- Watch television together
- Listen to music
- Bring in crafts to share with the resident
- Ask the floor’s activity coordinator for a nail polish kit to do the
resident’s nails
- Take the resident to one of the activities posted on the activity
calendar
Time Requirements:
- Depending on the resident, visits can vary from 15 minutes to 1 hour.
- It is important that the volunteer visit the resident on a consistent basis.
And Many More…
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International Volunteer Day
International Volunteer Day, as recognized by the United Nations, is December
5th. This is a day set aside to recognize and appreciate
volunteers around the world.
National Volunteer Week
A week set aside in April to recognize Canadian volunteers who so graciously
contribute to our communities and people in need.
Upcoming dates for National Volunteer Week:
- 2007 – April 15 to 21
- 2008 – April 27 to May 3
- 2009 – April 19 to 25
- 2010 – April 18 to 24
Ontario Volunteer Service Awards
Each year a maximum of six volunteers from individual organizations can receive their volunteer pin and
recognition from the Government of Ontario. Adult volunteers require a minimum
of five years of continuous service with one organization to qualify; the pins are
given out in five-year intervals thereinafter.
The youth volunteer award requires two years of continuous service with one
organization.
Cassellholme Annual Volunteer Appreciation Gala
A night of fun and entertainment provided by Cassellholme to recognize our
many great volunteers! A wonderful evening to socialize while we wait on you!
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