Barwon Health Volunteer and Community Partnerships

Are you our next HELPful human?

Volunteers together with a specialised clinical team have teamed up to deliver an internationally recognised program aiming to identify and reduce the cases of delirium in hospitalised older adults. Developed in the US, HELP stands for Hospitalised Elder Life Program – reducing delirium and comorbid health risks which otherwise lead to longer hospital stays and decline in function.

Barwon Health is excited to share that the pilot of HELP is growing, and we are now looking to expand our volunteer workforce within the program currently being conducted on a select ward at University Hospital Geelong. This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase how beneficial a program can be for patients when run in tandem with volunteers and clinical teams.

The opportunity:

· HELP is an innovative program designed to improve the hospital experience of older patients by visiting whilst in hospital, with targeted interventions to prevent any delirium (acute confusion) and cognitive decline for the patient.

· Volunteers will directly engage with patients to ensure they are oriented and achieving daily health goals (Ie. Hydration, nutrition, mobility, cognitive engagement)

· Offering personalised companionship lasting between 5-40minutes per patient.

· Your day will include visiting patients on the ward who have been approved and enrolled in the HELP via the clinical team. Each visit will require a small amount of documentation to support early diagnosis of delirium.

As our pilot program grows, we are seeking volunteers to cover the following shift availability, Monday-Friday:

AM (9:45am-12:45pm) and PM (12:30pm - 3:30pm)

About you:

· Do you thrive engaging directly with patients and helping them meet their daily health needs?

· Are you wishing to use your compassion and empathy in a rewarding role directly supporting vulnerable patients during their time of need?