While loneliness and isolation can affect anyone’s mental health, the impact can be more severe for older people. This Community Visitor Scheme is all about reducing social isolation of older LGBTI people by providing company and friendship from Volunteer Visitors. Volunteers make regular one on one home or aged care facility visits, where they chat over a cuppa, listen to music, watch a movie or participate in a hobby, game or other activity.

The Role:

• To provide social support by making a commitment to visit a client in their home or aged care facility, for one or two hours per week or fortnight
• Become a companion and provide opportunities for the client to enjoy their time with you.
• Keep appropriate records of all visits
• Inform Coordinator immediately of any hazards, accidents or incidents or near misses that occurs to the client or volunteer while visiting. This includes filling out the appropriate forms with the Volunteer Support Officer
• Liaise with the CVS Coordinator as required
• Mandatory completion of online training before commencing home visits

Volunteer Qualities:

• Exercise Duty of Care at all times
• Respect the rights of the clients including confidentiality privacy
• A sensitive and caring attitude and respect for the frail aged and younger people with disabilities
• Patience, empathy, kindness and commitment
• Good listening and communication skills to enable a happy and social visit

If you would like to improve the quality of life for our older LGBTI community members, we would love to hear from you!