The Hospital Visitation Program connects new stroke survivors and/or caregivers in a hospital setting (acute care, inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation unit) with peer volunteers who are stroke survivors themselves or caregivers of someone impacted by stroke. The volunteers who support the program have lived experience with the effects of a stroke, and utilize their experience to provide hope, encouragement, education, and emotional support to people who are beginning the recovery process.
Main Responsibilities
- Initiate and lead one-to-one conversations (online or in-person) with patients in a respectful, calm, and supportive manner
- Encourage patients to participate and engage in conversation
- Share their own stroke journey and provide hope and encouragement
- Respect the nature and extent to which patients engage in conversations
- Record and report volunteer hours and number visits to the Volunteer Engagement Coordinator or on VicNet on a monthly basis
- Debrief with a Volunteer Engagement Coordinator on a regular basis or when needed
- Introduce MODC After Stroke personalized case management program and community-based peer support programs using materials provided by MODC
- Adhere to all Hospital and MODC policies, procedures and guidelines including public health related guidelines
- Utilize the resource "Your Stroke Journey"™ by Heart and Stroke or the Toronto Stroke Network document, “Your Guide to Stroke Recovery,” to stimulate conversation
- Report on any urgent concerns regarding the patients that arise during the visit (emotional and physical health) to hospital unit staff and MODC Volunteer Engagement Coordinator
- Provide hope, optimism, encouragement, and personal knowledge of stroke recovery and encourage continued contact with MODC through sharing details of the After Stroke Program and other MODC programs and services.
Staff Liaison: Volunteer Engagement Coordinator
Time Commitment: Minimum 1-year commitment; Flexible, 2-3 hours per week.
Location: Virtual and or In Person (Hamilton, Guelph)
Skills and Experience
- Must be over 18 years of age
- Must be a stroke survivor (12 months minimum since stroke occurred) or a caregiver for someone who has had a stroke (required)
- Strong interpersonal skills, including listening skills and ability to show empathy (required)
- Reliable (required)
- Self-directed; able to work independently (required)
- Able to follow direction (required)
- Able to demonstrate a positive attitude (required)
- Recognizes personal boundaries within the role and uses supervision to clarify when uncertainties arise (required)
- Respects and values cultural diversities, the opinions, and ideas of others (required)
- Ability to demonstrate, inform, and share your knowledge about stroke based on your lived experience and by using evidence informed document “Your Stroke Journey” with the new stroke survivors and their families (required)
- Ability to access a Virtual Platform (in virtual only hospital visitation programs)
Required Training
- Introduction to MODC
- Mandatory legislated training (Access for Ontarians with Disabilities Act or equivalent in other provinces)
- Program Specific training – Hospital Visitation Role
- Orientation on-site at the hospital with VEC (includes shadowing)
- 4 Training sessions specific to the role of hospital peer visitation
- Additional orientation and/or training provided by hospital staff Orientation (In-person)
Benefits of the Position
- Gain experience in a hospital setting and develop a greater understanding of stroke rehabilitation
- Opportunity to have a positive impact on those who have been affected by stroke
- Opportunity to develop and strengthen your communication skills
- Participate as a valued volunteer of March of Dimes Canada and of assigned hospital Screening Requirements - MODC
Screening Requirements
- Application For
- 2 References
- Volunteer Agreement and Declaration
- Vulnerable Sector Screen Clearance
- Proof of immunization - MMRI and Varicella
- TB tests
