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Wellness Volunteer

Wellness volunteers support individuals living with a life threatening illness and their family members. The process to become a visiting volunteer is extensive and requires a strong commitment of all that join the team. Successful individuals can explain why it is they are drawn to this type of work, have some knowledge of loss and are aware of the differences in the way people experience grief. Successful volunteers are able to listen and understand that volunteer work is not a place to share their own opinions. Visiting and Wellness Volunteers must be 18 years or older. If you have experienced the deathof a significant person, we ask that you wait one year to apply to be a client volunteer.

 

Certified practitioners in areas such as Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, Healing Touch, etc. provide services to clients either in the therapy room at HKA or in the client’s home. As well, yoga teachers offer yoga classes.

  • 2 - 4 hours per week minimum one year commitment

Process to Becoming a Wellness Volunteer

 

  1. Review our website and familiarize yourself with what we do.

  2. Read and reflect on the “Things to Consider…” 

  3. Review Core Concepts in Palliative Care  course information. This training is mandatory for all volunteers who will be involved in 1:1 interaction with clients in their homes and highly recommended for group volunteers..  

  4. Complete the Volunteer Application

  5. Contact HKA to make arrangements for an interview with the coordinator. Provide coordinator with your completed application form. Be prepared to answer questions about why you wish to volunteer, what you will be able to contribute, and please be familiar and comfortable with or willing to learn about the type of support we provide.

  6. Reference checks will be completed by coordinator.

  7. Volunteer will be registered by HKA staff for the 30-hour “Core Concepts in Palliative Care” training ($25 fee to be paid by volunteer).

  8. If there is a time lag between submitting the application and the start of the Core Concepts training, volunteers are urged to complete the online e-learning “Communications” module. Login-in information is available from coordinator.

  9. Volunteer will need to obtain a “Police Vulnerable Sector Check” through York Region Police www.yrp.ca ($20 fee to be paid by volunteer).

  10. Upon completion of Core Concepts training, volunteer will attend a HKA Orientation meeting and HKA Physical Skills Training.

  11. Volunteers are asked to complete at least two continuing education sessions offered by HKA and/or in the community on an annual basis.

 

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