Event

Living Before Dying

St. Josephs Auxiliary Hospital is currently recruiting for a volunteer pilot opportunity that will start in the fall of 2019. The project is founded on two basic assumptions: firstly, that our humanity makes us responsible for one another and secondly, volunteering offers retired persons an opportunity to redefine themselves and pay it forward.

Project Background: Having shed their professional identities upon leaving their employment, many retirees need to find a new identity. Some will find fulfillment in travel, reading, golfing or some form of leisure activity, others in being grandparents. However, for those looking for an opportunity to give a little and get a lot, volunteering in a long-term care facility may provide the perfect opportunity to redefine themselves and give new meaning to their lives.

We believe that there are people out there who are willing to make a significant time commitment (min. 6 hours per week) and help cater to the higher-level needs of persons in long-term care. We believe that working with project mentors, these newly recruited volunteers will not only contribute to improving the quality of life of the persons they work with, but will also reap a lot of personal satisfaction and enjoyment from their experiences.

Presenters: Peter Adams and Alain Nogue have been volunteering at St. Josephs Auxiliary Hospital for 5 and 6 years respectively. Their work with resident and CDS clients has given them valuable experience in the field of long-term care and opportunities to reflect on how volunteering can become a game changer in this fast expanding field. Both Pete and Alain believe that volunteering could offer retirees renewed meaning.