| The
initial volunteer training for Senior Connections, called
The Good Neighbor Course, was developed by The
Singer Institute staff in collaboration with the St.
Louis University Department of Geriatric Psychiatry. |
The
course’s main areas of learning include:
o Communication and listening skills
o Building of relationships
o Delaying of gratification
o Profiles of the client population
o Dynamics of institutionalization
o Nursing home structure and relationship to staff
o Confidentiality and privacy issues |
| We
ask the volunteers to make a commitment to a resident
companion of at least one hour per week for a minimum
of one year. Then we work with nursing home staff to
make a suitable match with residents who have the greatest
need for volunteer companionship. |
| After
our volunteers have begun to form relationships with
residents, we conduct support groups to share the experiences
of the volunteers. We use that information to identify
where special support is needed and to improve the overall
effectiveness of the program. We also evaluate the performance
of our individual volunteers, as well as the response
of their resident companions, to ensure that both are
enjoying an enriching relationship. |
|
|
|
Program
founder Suzsanne Singer (center) surrounded
by several of the original Relational Volunteers. |
|
