Home Hospice North Lanark (HHNL) Visiting Volunteers develop relationships with our clients. With the support of our Program Coordinators, they connect clients with community resources required to meet evolving needs — all to improve quality of life.

Our Visiting Volunteers are trained to provide support to clients and their families. They are exceptional listeners, compassionate, adaptable to change, and respect the beliefs and lifestyles of the individuals and families that they visit.

They must complete 35 hours of training to meet the Hospice Association of Ontario (HPCO) standards. A vulnerable sector police check will be required.

Each one of our Visiting Volunteers brings unique gifts to their home visit including a gentle presence, compassion and kindness, listening to life stories/life reviews, spending quiet time, sharing a cup of tea and a visit, sharing hobbies/interests, helping to write letters or cards, making video calls, playing a game of cards, incorporating music, praying with a person/family if requested and honouring of client’s beliefs, and they support the caregivers as well.

With the support of our Program Coordinators, they connect clients with community resources required to meet evolving needs, with a goal to improve quality of life.

Visiting Volunteers work under the close supervision of the Program Coordinators, attend monthly meetings, are required to follow policies of HHNL and maintain strict confidentiality at all times.

A Day in the Life of a Visiting Volunteer

It’s your day to visit your first client. You’re excited about it, because you’ve completed your free training…you love to learn new things. Your Program Coordinator (PC) is great. She has matched you with a lovely person and you know you can make a difference in their life.

You’ve been told that they love to play cards, and if they’re up to it, a walk around the block might be nice on this beautiful day. While you’re visiting, you’ll be observing and listening carefully for clues as to how you can best support this person.

When you arrive, you hear a friendly “come ahead in” in response to your knock on the door. They’re sitting in a chair ready for the day, but their shoelaces are untied. You quickly tie them, but make a note to talk to the PC and mention that shoes with a Velcro closing might be a good idea. After a walk, during which you both enjoyed seeing everyone’s pretty flowerbeds, you come back to the house and notice the playing cards are sitting ready on the table. Pretty soon a lively game of double solitaire is underway. In the course of the game, they mention that they are supposed to call their family doctor back but haven’t yet because of the “…press one; press two…it’s so confusing.” You offer to dial for them while they put on the kettle to make some tea. In no time at all you’ve got the doctor’s office on the line and while they complete the call, you pour the tea.

And just like that, the hour-long visit is over, and you say goodbye (it feels too soon) with a promise that you’ll be back next week. As you drive home you feel great! You know that you’ve made a tangible difference today for a lovely person, and will continue to do so.

Hmmm. Maybe you’ll ask for a second “match.” And you are definitely going to tell your friends they should sign up!

Does This Sound Like Something You Could Do?

As a Visiting Volunteer, you will experience personal satisfaction, knowing you are helping vulnerable people to live their lives with a higher level of quality and joy. You will also learn new skills…and likely make new friends!

If you have any questions, please contact us by email at [email protected], by phone at 613-406-7020 or 343-262-0902, or by fax at 343-809-0888.

If you are thinking about becoming a Visiting Volunteer, please complete our Visiting Volunteer Application Form and send it by email to [email protected], by fax to 343-809-0888, or by post at P.O. Box 787, Almonte, ON K0A 1A0