Volunteering at Perley Rideau

Perley Rideau volunteers provide special comfort and care to residents of our Village. Volunteers are carefully screened and trained to give direct support through welcoming new residents and families, medical escorts, feeding, visiting, pet therapy, palliative and spiritual care. Volunteers enable greater participation in church services, creative arts, recreation, and physiotherapy programs. They staff Deborah’s Gift Boutique, the residents' Pub and Ice Cream Parlour and they porter residents to the Beauty Salon and Barber Shop. Loved ones are welcome to volunteer to provide direction to the Health Centre through the Family and Friends Council. Read more about the wide range of opportunities for you to help improve the well-being of the people we serve.

Our current volunteers range in age from 13 to 95 and include people of all abilities. Through Volunteer Services, Perley Rideau offers High School Co-op placements and a Summer Youth Program. We are pleased to provide all registered volunteers with a thorough orientation, ongoing training opportunities, free parking and vouchers for refreshments in the cafeteria. Want to get involved? Complete an application form today!

Volunteer Opportunities 

(Check the website for up to date information)
Clerical
Volunteers assist with filing, photocopying, data entry, mail delivery, collating material and related tasks. Weekday, daytime.

Creative Arts Service
Under staff supervision, volunteers assist residents with gardening activities and in creating pottery, crafts, woodworking, and painting. Daytime, evenings and weekends.

Pet Therapy
Volunteers and their pets, who have graduated from an approved pet therapy program, visit with residents who enjoy the company of animals. Daytime, evenings and weekends.

Medical Escort
Volunteers accompany residents on appointments (by Para Transpo or Taxi) to doctor’s/dentist’s office or out-patient clinics at hospitals. Weekday, daytime.

Family Transition
Volunteers familiar with Perley Rideau welcome new long-term care residents, and their loved ones, on admission day.

Foundation
Volunteers may help with clerical duties and special events.

Deborah’s Gift Boutique
Volunteers provide assistance and handle transactions in Deborah’s Gift Boutique during a three-hour shift. The Boutique is open weekday daytime and afternoons on the weekend. It provides a friendly, accessible on-site shopping experience for residents and all proceeds benefit the Perley Rideau Foundation.

Hair Studio
Volunteers help with transportation to and from scheduled appointments and offer general assistance in the Barbershop or Beauty Salon. Weekday, daytime.

Meal Assistance
Volunteers give needed assistance and one-on-one companionship to enhance the meal experience for residents. Specialized training provided. All meals, any day.

Music Therapy
Volunteers escort residents to and from the activity area, give encouragement and support to individual residents and participate in the Choir, band or sing-a-long program, if they wish. Weekdays and weekends, daytime.

Palliative Care
Volunteers who have completed a Palliative Care Volunteer Training Program are assigned, on request from staff, to provide companionship to residents who are approaching the palliative or end-of-life stage. Flexible scheduling.

Physiotherapy
Volunteers help the staff to provide rehabilitation services and/or exercise classes to residents. Weekday, daytime.

Pub
Smart Serve certified volunteers tend the bar in the resident’s pub for daily Happy Hour service.

Therapeutic Recreation Services
Activities include social groups, bingo, barbecues, tri-shaw bike riders, cards, ice cream parlour visits and outings. Weekday afternoons, evenings and weekends.

Spiritual Health
Volunteers accompany residents to and from their rooms to the Chapel, and stay with them during the service. Services are Thursday morning, Friday morning and Sunday morning and afternoon.

Volunteer Visitor
With staff guidance, volunteers are matched with residents to establish a relationship that will provide companionship to the residents.   Flexible scheduling.