Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada – Ottawa Chapter

Volunteer Position Title: Friendly Visiting Program Volunteer
Volunteer Position Time Frame: Ongoing-12/31/2019

Contact Name: Jen Horvath
Contact Email: jennifer.horvath@mssociety.ca
Website: https://mssociety.ca/chapter/ottawa-chapter
Location: 300-885 Meadowlands Dr., Ottawa, ON K2C 3N2

Mission: To be a leader in finding a cure for multiple sclerosis and enabling people affected by MS to enhance their quality of life.

Volunteer Position Description:

The Friendly Visiting Program at the MS Society refers to a situation whereby a trained volunteer offers regular visits/informal support to someone living with MS who resides in long term care. It is designed to provide a social outlet, increase awareness of community resources, and engage individuals with MS in shared activities.

Peer support is a vital resource to complement the education, practical support, and research offered by the MS Society of Canada. People living in long term care often face increased social isolation and individuals living with MS often face an added challenge of age. In some cases, people with progressive and significant impairments may end up in facilities decades before the average age of the other residents.

The purpose of this program is to improve the quality of life of isolated persons with MS living in a long term care home, by fostering supportive relationships between a resident and a volunteer. Working together, our goals are: to reduce social isolation; to provide support, companionship and appropriate activities to residents; to provide information about MS, the MS Society, and appropriate community resources; and to increase the MS Society’s awareness of the needs/issues of individuals living in long term care.

Volunteers will be appropriately trained and will be required to complete a vulnerable sector check. We ask that volunteers commit to visiting a resident at least once per month for a minimum of 8 months.

Volunteer Requirements: Police record check is required for this position.

How to Apply: Fill out the form found here to apply today!




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