An introductory meeting of the Friendly Visiting program was held at the Carlyle Public Library on Thursday, June 13. During the Reducing Isolation in Seniors Coalition (RISC) meeting held at the Sustainability Centre earlier this year, Darlene Burnett was intrigued by the Friendly Visiting Program presented by Red Cross Program Co-ordinator, Shawna Green, and organized the informational meeting.
Already a Red Cross Volunteer, Burnett has been active as a part of the Disaster Management team. Megan Russell attended the informational meeting to explain more about her part in the Disaster Management Program. These are the people in red vests that you often see on television, working locally with small scale events involving 50 people or less, supporting them with food, clothing or shelter in the first 72 hours following a fire or flood. Large scale events involving mobilization across the country or even internationally for events such as the Fort MacMurray fires also require many volunteers. Burnett has worked during the flooding in Carnduff, filling out vouchers for food and shelter, signing in people, helping with health issues and with people evacuated to Prince Albert during the fires north of there, as well. Red Cross would ideally like to have two to three trained volunteers in each community and welcomes interested people to consider the many ways you might participate.
Since learning of the Friendly Visitors program, Burnett has been actively recruiting people she feels would enjoy visiting as well as seniors who might benefit and already has a few people on both sides of the program well on their way to being paired up .The program goal is to provide companionship for seniors aged 65+ who feel vulnerable and isolated due to geographical location, physical disabilities or impairments, health issues, lack of close support systems or inability to leave their home. The visits happen one-on-one with the senior either in their home or over the phone. Volunteers are recruited and paired with an isolated senior for a weekly visit of approximately one hour. Volunteers for phone visits do not necessarily have to live in the same community as their senior, but for those doing face to face visits it may be simpler if the senior is in the same town. All volunteers must apply as a Red Cross Volunteer and successfully complete a Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector check in order to qualify. The screening process has been put in place to ensure the volunteers are safe, competent individuals so no one needs to worry about their loved one’s safety. Volunteers do not do any chores, care or other services for their clients, they may simply chat, play a game, do a craft, discuss news or interests or go on short walks in the community. It is interesting to note that students aged 16-18 are eligible to be a part of the program and while many start because they feel it will look good on their resume when applying for scholarships or for work experience, many find that they have been benefitting in personal growth as well.
If you have an interest in becoming a Friendly Visitor, know someone who may benefit from this program or you are a senior who would be interested in having a Friendly Visitor please contact the Program Co-Ordinator at 306.216.6602 or email friendlyvisitingsask@redcross.ca
