March 1, 2015
1720
For nearly 120 years, the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) has been supporting Canadians across the country, particularly toward the end of their lives.
In Grey-Bruce, the VON has two main ways in which it helps senior citizens remain comfortable and active as they grow older.
In 2014, volunteers gave 14,000 hours of their time to the people that VON Grey-Bruce supports. Two-thirds of that dealt with direct home care, be it looking after patients or helping out the people caring for their elderly loved ones.
Supportive care volunteers are people who offer social and emotional support to individuals and families living with a life-threatening illness in Grey and Bruce counties (except Bruce Peninsula). Support is available in the client’s home, long-term care home, residential hospice or hospital.
Volunteers offer support for approximately four hours per week, depending on the need of the individual and family and the availability of volunteers, and offer respite for family caregivers and companionship to individuals.
As well, Residential Hospice volunteers currently support the operation of the facility with light housekeeping and mealtime support. Staff and volunteers all contribute to the operation of the house.
Also falling under this umbrella, are the caregiver support circle volunteers. These volunteers are dedicated to supporting informal caregivers who are caring for an adult with a long-term health condition throughout Grey and Bruce counties.
Volunteers offer caregiver respite and companionship to individuals in the community and long-term care homes and lead caregiver support groups. Support can be on a one-time basis, a series of visits or ongoing support, based on the needs of the caregiver and availability of volunteers.
VON isn’t just looking after the families of the sick and elderly. VON volunteers are actively taking part in activities that help improve the quality of life of senior citizens through the Seniors Maintaining Active Roles Together (SMART) exercise and falls prevention program.
This is a functional exercise program for older adults taught by trained volunteer instructors. Fitness classes are designed to improve well-being, promote healthy aging, maintain independence and decrease the risk of falls, and addresses health issues such as osteoporosis, arthritis, stroke, diabetes and stress. Volunteer instructors are trained through the VON SMART education program and get ongoing training and education.
“My passion is to help seniors get themselves healthier, stay in their own homes longer and be connected with their community,” says Millie Zarubick of Kincardine, a long-time volunteer SMART fitness instructor. “By being an instructor with the SMART program and teaching functional exercise, I am trying my best to keep myself and seniors out of nursing homes for as long as possible!”
SMART classes are held in Kincardine, at the Anglican Church four times per week and at the Huron Terrace apartments. In Ripley, Tiverton, Lucknow and Teeswater, they are held at the community centres twice per week, mostly all run by volunteers.
The VON is hosting a free SMART orientation session at the Ripley-Huron Community Centre in Ripley, Thursday April 2. Potential volunteers are invited to attend the 9:30 a.m. class (one hour) to see what it's all about and stay (or come at 10:30 a.m.) for a half-hour orientation session about what all is involved in becoming a SMART fitness instructor. For further information, E-mail Loretta Dunn at loretta.dunn@von.ca
To support these programs, the VON is hosting its Eighth annual Chocolate Lovers Brunch, Sunday, March 22, at The Grey Rose Restaurant in Hanover. Doors open at Noon, with brunch at 1 p.m. Tickets are $60 each (a portion is eligible for a charitable receipt) and each ticket gives you:
The VON will also be having its jewellery truffle draw ($10 each, or three for $25), and silent auction this year!
Tickets are available at J’Adorn in downtown Kincardine or by calling the VON at 519-376-5895.
For more information on VON Grey-Bruce, details on volunteering and the annual Chocolate Lovers Brunch fundraiser, E-mail: von4you.GreyBruce@von.ca.
Miller Zarubick (L) of Kincardine conducts a SMART fitness class; photo courtesy of Loretta Dunn of the VON
Written ByLiz Dadson is the founder and editor of the Kincardine Record and has been in the news business since 1986.
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