Friendly Visitor/Caller for Seniors Living Alone (South Vancouver Neighbourhood House)

South Vancouver Neighbourhood House (SVNH) is a community service agency and charitable organization serving South Vancouver since 1977. As a neighbourhood house, we work toward improving the quality of both community and family life. We offer activities and services for seniors, adults, families, youth, and children, which are determined by the needs and interests of the people living in our community. Each year, nearly 3,000 individuals participate in our programs, which are run in partnership with over 600 volunteers who donate more than 30,000 hours of their time.

Program: Community-based Seniors Services & Volunteers Assisting Seniors Independence Program

Objectives:
- To provide regular, ongoing friendly calls, visits, or walks to seniors experiencing loneliness.
- To reduce seniors' isolation by helping them establish meaningful connections within their community.
- To understand the seniors' needs and offer support when appropriate.

 Key Responsibilities:  
- Call each senior you are connected with weekly or bi-weekly basis for a minimum of 15 minutes, or visit for a minimum of 30 minutes.
- Offer a friendly, listening ear.
- Provide information and referrals to other programs as needed (training provided).
- Report any incidents or emergencies immediately to the program coordinator.

Respect confidentiality:
- Attend all required orientation and training sessions.
- Treat all seniors with dignity and respect.

Qualifications:  
- Excellent communication skills.
- Empathetic, compassionate, and non-judgmental.
- Sensitivity toward seniors and individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds.
- Willingness to make a positive difference in the lives of seniors.
- Speaking additional languages is an asset.

Schedule:
- Flexible, depending on the availability of both you and the matched senior.

Time Commitment: 
- Able to commit to a minimum of 6 months 

*** For more information, please contact Kam Wong at kam.wong@southvan.org. ***