| PEI Friendly Visitor Program |
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| "The only way to have a friend is to be one." - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
- Friendly Visitor Goals and Guiding Principles
- To provide seniors in danger of becoming socially isolated with meaningful one-on-one relationships with
senior volunteers.
- To assist seniors in maintaining self-sufficiency and independence.
- To provide seniors with moments of happiness in the present, and something to look forward to in the
immediate future.
- To decrease seniors’ social isolation thereby increasing their quality of life.
- To provide an enriching experience for Friendly Visitor volunteers, as well as the seniors they visit.
Our Guiding Principles:
- Dignity - We demonstrate respect for the personal privacy, individual values, preferences, and spiritual
beliefs of seniors.
Fairness - We equally address the distinctive needs of diverse seniors in accordance with the Human Rights
Act.
Participation - We enable seniors to maintain their social status and social connections in the community.
Respect - We promote a culture of respect across generations and recognize the contributions of seniors to
family, friends, community, and society.
Safety - We enable seniors to live in safe and supportive living environments, free from danger, fear and
exploitation.
Self-Determination - We respect the right of seniors to manage their affairs and participate as fully as
possible in decisions affecting their health and security.
Self-Fulfillment - We ensure seniors can access the educational, cultural, spiritual, and recreational
resources of society.
Security - We ensure seniors shall have sufficient resources to meet their basic needs and lead self-fulfilling
lives.
- [From the Strategy for Positive Aging for Nova Scotia (2005)]
The Friendly Visitor Volunteer:
The Friendly Visitor Volunteer:
- Provides friendship and companionship to a senior who may be in danger of becoming socially isolated.
- Visits a senior regularly, either in the seniors’ residence or by phone, at a mutually agreed upon time.
- Establishes rapport and develops a friendly supportive relationship with their participating senior.
- Initiates and assists with activities (such as playing cards or board games, writing letters, reminiscing,
reading the newspaper or a story aloud).
- Is discrete and always maintains confidentiality regarding personal information.
- Maintains regular contact with their Team Leader - asking questions and talking plainly about concerns.
- Attends and participates in bi-monthly volunteer support meetings.
- Is knowledgeable about being a Friendly Visitor Volunteer and understands the responsibilities that are or are
not a part of the volunteer role.
The Friendly Visitor Volunteer:
- Will not do general cleaning, cooking, or laundry for participating seniors.
- Will not dress, bathe or perform personal hygiene assistance for participating seniors.
- Does not administer medication or nursing care for participating seniors.
- Will not provide transportation services for shopping, health care provider office visits, or other errands.
| The PEI Friendly Visitor Program is funded by the PEI Department of Community Services and Seniors under the direction of Minister Valerie Docherty. |
The Mission of the PEI Friendly Visitor Program is to provide friendship and companionship to Island
seniors who may be in danger of becoming socially isolated and to enrich their lives through regular social
visits from dedicated volunteers.
Who may become a Friendly Visitor?
Friendly Visitor volunteers are kind, caring individuals who spend about an hour a week with a participating senior
who is in danger of becoming socially isolated. Adults 50 years of age or older may apply to volunteer as a Friendly
Visitor. The screening process to become a Friendly Visitor volunteer is outlined below. Once the screening
process is completed, volunteers are matched with a participating senior for weekly social visits. Volunteers
become part of a local Friendly Visitor group and attend bi-monthly meetings with other Friendly Visitor volunteers.
What does a Friendly Visitor do?
Friendly Visitor volunteers build relationships with participating seniors and provide companionship through regular
weekly visits. Visits may include playing board games or cards, reading a newspaper or magazine aloud, chatting
over tea, going for a walk.
Steps to Becoming a Friendly Visitor Volunteer
Becoming a Friendly Visitor Volunteer is a four-step process that includes an application, an interview, a criminal
records check and an orientation.
1. Submit a completed Volunteer Application Form and a Permission and Release Form.
2. Bring a completed Volunteer Questionnaire Form to a brief interview.
3. If approved, you will be furnished with a letter for a criminal record check.
4. Bring your Criminal Record Check to the Friendly Visitor Orientation.
Once orientation is completed, volunteers become part of their local Friendly Visitor group and are matched with a
participating senior for weekly visits.
seniors who may be in danger of becoming socially isolated and to enrich their lives through regular social
visits from dedicated volunteers.
Who may become a Friendly Visitor?
Friendly Visitor volunteers are kind, caring individuals who spend about an hour a week with a participating senior
who is in danger of becoming socially isolated. Adults 50 years of age or older may apply to volunteer as a Friendly
Visitor. The screening process to become a Friendly Visitor volunteer is outlined below. Once the screening
process is completed, volunteers are matched with a participating senior for weekly social visits. Volunteers
become part of a local Friendly Visitor group and attend bi-monthly meetings with other Friendly Visitor volunteers.
What does a Friendly Visitor do?
Friendly Visitor volunteers build relationships with participating seniors and provide companionship through regular
weekly visits. Visits may include playing board games or cards, reading a newspaper or magazine aloud, chatting
over tea, going for a walk.
Steps to Becoming a Friendly Visitor Volunteer
Becoming a Friendly Visitor Volunteer is a four-step process that includes an application, an interview, a criminal
records check and an orientation.
1. Submit a completed Volunteer Application Form and a Permission and Release Form.
2. Bring a completed Volunteer Questionnaire Form to a brief interview.
3. If approved, you will be furnished with a letter for a criminal record check.
4. Bring your Criminal Record Check to the Friendly Visitor Orientation.
Once orientation is completed, volunteers become part of their local Friendly Visitor group and are matched with a
participating senior for weekly visits.
