Dining Room Companion

The Dining Room Companion aids residents who require partial or full meal consumption assistance.

Season: Year round

Age Requirement: 16 Years

Objective: To enhance the quality of mealtimes for both residents and caregivers

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Ensure proper hand hygiene before and after assisting each resident
  • Greet residents upon arrival
  • Assist with fastening clothing protectors
  • Ensure both yourself and the residents you are assisting are comfortable and properly positioned.
  • Receive resident meal and beverage choices from staff.
  • Assist residents, whether partially or completely, with assigned adaptive feeding equipment, while ensuring proper feeding techniques are being exercised. Please note that all residents are encouraged to maintain as much independence with handling their meal as possible.
  • Provide a relaxed dining experience while engaging in light conversation, thus enriching the social environment for our residents.
  • Assist the resident with hand and face cleansing and to carefully remove the clothing protector after their meal.

Accessibility: Fully Accessible

Interaction Level: One-to-One Interaction

Time required:

  • Six Months
  • One hour per visit required
  • One visit per week is the recommended minimum; as to maintain continuity of care.
  • Breakfast: 8:30am, Lunch: 12:00pm, Dinner: 5:00pm
  • It is recommended that volunteers arrive at least 20 minutes before meal times to ensure unhurried preparations are made.

Skills/Experience:

  • Demonstrates communication and interpersonal skills
  • Maintains a professional and confidential relationship
  • Maintains a supportive and respectful environment
  • Demonstrates Teamwork
  • Conveys empathy and compassion while practicing patience

Training Requirements:

  • Village Volunteer Orientation and screening
  • Safe Eating for Canada: A Relias training module (40 minutes)
  • Proper Feeding Procedures: A Relias training module (40 minutes)
  • Meal Assistance Training video: provided by the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region (10 minutes)
  • To shadow a Life Enrichment or nursing staff member at a breakfast, lunch and dinner hour
  • Valid CPR & First Aid Certificate is highly encouraged and up-to-date proof of re-certification, when necessary

Benefits:

  • An opportunity to provide an enhanced dining experience for both the resident and caregiver.