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Community Support & Volunteer Services
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Alzheimer Volunteer Visiting
Trained volunteers visit people with Alzheimer disease in their homes to provide respite to their caregivers.
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Client Intervention and Assistance
Some VON clients and their caregivers are more vulnerable and at risk than others. The intervention and assistance program provides support and crisis intervention, such as when a client is being abused, needs special services, or the help of an advocate. The goal is to put a plan into place for long-term stability for the client.
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Community Integration Program
Living independently is a challenge for people with disabilities. The Community Integration Program provides transition housing and support for people to let them adapt to their housing and daily living needs. Specially designed and equipped apartments provide short-term tenancy up to six months for people with disabilities who are making the transition from rehabilitation towards independent living.
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Diner's Club and Wheels to Meals
These meals - some are lunches and some are dinners - reverse the meals-on-wheels concept, by bringing clients together for a nutritious meal and socializing and/or educational sessions. The program staff ensures that the meals provide a well-balanced diet and ensures special dietary requirements are met to the extent possible. Some Diners' Clubs focus on the needs of patients with dementia.
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Functional Fitness Programs
Functional Fitness Programs include exercise programs delivered primarily by volunteers to seniors who are unable to access regular community fitness programs. The program operates both in group, and one on one settings and accommodates all levels of ability from seated to standing to dynamic movement. (SMART Program).
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Home Maintenance and Repair
A program to assist clients in maintaining a clean and safe environment surrounding their house through yard maintenance, window washing, snow removal and other chores. VON can also help clients arrange for professional repairs for plumbing, electricity and roofing.
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Meals on Wheels
Volunteers deliver hot, nourishing meals to people unable to shop or cook. The meals are prepared in government-inspected kitchens under contracts between VON and commercial caterers or institutional kitchens.
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Palliative/Hospice Volunteer Visiting
Hospice volunteers are specially trained, caring, dedicated individuals who offer their knowledge and experience to help both the client and their family through the disease process, treatment and outcome of their illness.
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Pet Therapy Program
Most people have a special bond with pet animals, and VON works in partnership with St. John's Ambulance to have volunteers take their dogs to visit isolated people in hospitals, seniors' residences and nursing homes. Pet therapy is known to have a considerable therapeutic calming effect, can bring dementia patients out of their shells and may even lower blood pressure.
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Security/Reassurance Checks
Volunteers call isolated seniors on a daily basis to check that they are not in crisis or at risk of harm. At some branches the service is offered in seniors' apartment buildings and volunteers within the building check on clients using a pre-arranged system that will alert the volunteer that the client needs assistance.
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Special Steps
This is a walking or visiting program for seniors experiencing memory impairments. The program consists of in-home, regularly scheduled visits by specially trained volunteers.
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Supportive Housing Program
VON’s Supportive Housing Program provides homemaking, personal support and/or attendant services to elderly individuals who live in supportive housing locations and who require services on a 24-hour basis. Clients are able to remain in their own apartment and staff visit to assist with personal care, light housekeeping, meal preparation and laundry.
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Vial of Life Program
In an emergency, sick people and their families may be unable to communicate important medical information to emergency services personnel. The "vial of life" program stores vital health information including physician and pharmacist contacts, allergies and other medical information in a vial in the refrigerator. A fridge magnet alerts emergency services that the client is part of the Vial of Life program.
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Volunteer Transportation
Volunteers provide transportation to medical appointments, grocery shopping, adult day programs, and other essential transportation.
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Volunteer Visiting
VON volunteer visitors provide much-needed friendship and help alleviate worry, isolation and strain. They provide personal assistance, such as transportation to appointments. Volunteers are matched with clients after a health professional assesses the needs and interests of the client.
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Youth Volunteer Program
The program matches young volunteers with lonely seniors or adults with disabilities in their home or in a retirement home. Youth volunteers share activities with their "friend," such as conversation, reading, writing letters, going for walks or playing cards. A Youth Volunteer Achievement Certificate is awarded after volunteers attend two training sessions and do 20 hours of volunteer visiting.
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