Hand to Hand Program
Objective:
To add to the quality of life of Continuing Care residents by providing companionship that can surpass communication barriers and improving mental health via therapeutic hand massage.
The hand massages are also an opportunity for the volunteer and resident to visit and enjoy each other’s company. Volunteers are trained to visit with residents with dementia and other cognitive conditions. The emphasis of the visit is on the therapeutic nature of the physical touch, and the period of increased attention for the resident.
Job Details:
- Volunteers will go in groups of 2-3 to the units, accompanied by a senior volunteer who is fully registered as a volunteer with the Edmonton General.
- Volunteers will administer hand massages to residents as per the health and hygiene requirements of the Edmonton General.
In particular:
Step 1: Volunteers sanitize their hands before and after approaching the resident.
Step 2: The resident’s hands are cleaned with a warm wet facecloth to remove residue.
Step 3: Hand sanitizer is applied to the resident’s hands.
Step 4: Hand lotion* is applied to the resident’s hands using light circular movements. During the ‘massage’, the focus is on therapeutic touch, and volunteers apply little to no actual pressure.
