Volunteer

read

Volunteers are integral to the Alzheimer Society of Simcoe County. There are many ways volunteers contribute to the work of the Society. Whether you have two hours to contribute or whether you want a bit more involvement, we will help you to find a role best suited to your skills.

Volunteers 1

Volunteer

Whether you have a few hours to give or you want to get involved regularly, there are several ways you can help.

We will work with you to determine a volunteer opportunity that is best suited to you, your skills and your goals. We provide training and ongoing support for all volunteer positions. 

     

    Volunteer Opportunities

    The Alzheimer Society of Simcoe County is currently recruiting volunteers for the following positions:

    Education

    Speakers Bureau:  Volunteers present information about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias to community groups of varying sizes by learning a standard format of material and interwoven with their personal journey with dementia.

    Health Fairs:  Volunteers provide basic information about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, direct people to appropriate community supports and promote the programs, services and current activities of the Society to those attending the health fair.

    Support Services

    Support Group Co-Facilitators

    This special group of volunteers connect family and friends caring for a person living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia to education and coping strategies in a safe place while sharing challenges and successes at their monthly meetings. These trained volunteers partner with Family Support Coordinators to provide leadership.

    Social/Recreational

    Good Day Café:  Hosted monthly in communities in Simcoe County, volunteers co-facilitate the social hour among their peers to ensure that everyone gets to know one another and has a good time.

    Good Day Luncheon:  Volunteers assist with organizing this monthly event in local restaurants in Orillia ensuring equal participation in a safe, comfortable environment.

    Creative Connections:  This is a weekly program partnering with Quest Art School + Gallery in Midland.  At this weekly art program, volunteers assist the instructor as they use various media to allow the person living with dementia and their care partner to explore their creativity.

    Minds in Motion©:  Minds in Motion is a community-based social program that incorporates physical activity and mental stimulation for people with early to mid-stage signs of dementia and their care partners. Volunteers get involved in the exercises, serve refreshments and participate in cognitive activities.

    Social Call Program: A social program to help to reduce the social isolation of care partners and persons living with dementia during Covid-19 and beyond.  The telephone calls of 15 to 30 minutes are made by trained volunteers on a regularily scheduled basis.  Follow up is available for clients who may need it. 

    Fundraising Events

    The Alzheimer Society of Simcoe County produces several fundraising events each year to raise funds to directly support the programs and services we offer within Simcoe County to those living with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.  Volunteers play a vital role in many of these events  and assist with everything from planning to helping to promote the events, to assisting with the operations on event day.

    Our main fundraising initiative is our annual IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s

    For information about volunteering for any of these inititatives, please contact Marguerite Glanfield at mglanfield@alzheimersociety.ca for current opportunities.

    Board of Directors:

    Our Board of Directors is a diverse group of individuals dedicated to ensuring the delivery of our mission. They are entrusted with providing strategic oversight of the organization and are accountable to the general public. We are always seeking nominees for the Board whose maturity, expertise and wisdom will contribute significantly to the effective governance of the Alzheimer Society of Simcoe County, and who are willing and able to volunteer their expertise, time, energy and resources.

    Orientation

    All new volunteers are asked to complete online Orientation which will help them to learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia. Volunteers can log onto the website at their convenience to participate in the interactive videos.

    All private and not-for-profit organizations in Ontario must ensure that their employees and all of their volunteers complete accessibility training following the Accessible Customer Service Standard under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act (AODA).

    Every volunteer is asked to complete the “interactive training video that shares the fundamental principles of accessibility and gives the tools that they can use to interact with and support people with disabilities.”

    The website links for both the dementia courses and the AODA courses will be provided at the time of the interview.

    Training

    Volunteers can expect to receive initial and ongoing training in their chosen role. Supervising staff support the individual needs of the volunteer on an ongoing basis.

    Volunteers & Their Stories

    CLICK HERE to read about some of our volunteers and their personal experiences volunteering with the Alzheimer Society of Simcoe County.

    Interested in Volunteering? 

    Our application process involves:

    • Submitting a completed application form.
    • Download and complete the following forms:  VOLUNTEER APPLICATION FORM, VOLUNTEER CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT
    • Submitting two (2) references. A reference may not be a family member.
    • Some volunteer roles require a Vulnerable Sector Check. You will be advised if a Vulnerable Sector Check is required.
    • Participating in an interview,

    We will contact you to arrange an Interview.