Volunteer at Your Local Nursing Home this National Volunteers Month
April is National Volunteer Month! Long term care facilities are always looking for volunteers to help the residents and staff with everyday tasks and special events.
Volunteering is beneficial for the residents, staff, and you! According to Western Connecticut University, volunteering can help increase your social skills, improve your mental and physical health, and can help advance your career.
You can celebrate National Volunteer Month this April by volunteering at your local nursing home or assisted living community. Here are some tips on how you can get started:
Find a long term care facility near you
To begin your volunteer journey, you need to first find a facility where you’d like to volunteer. Using our Care Finder tool, you can find a long term care facility near you along with all the information you need to get started, such as the facility’s address, email, and phone number.
Determine any volunteer requirements
Some nursing homes and assisted living communities have specific requirements, such as conducting a background check, that must be met before volunteering at the facility.. When speaking with the facility about possible volunteer opportunities, be sure to ask about any requirements.
Come ready to have fun!
Volunteering at a long term care facility brings a lot of joy and creates memories that will last a lifetime. So whether you are helping with a facility-wide picnic or a quick game of bingo, you better be ready to have fun and lots of it!
You can help the facility by coming up with ideas that are both safe and entertaining. Board games, crafts, and gardening are some activities you can do with residents. Taking the time to ask residents what they enjoy can be the easiest way to plan activities – perhaps something that can be shared with the community and facility.
Can’t volunteer at the facility? Find a different way!
You don’t need to volunteer at the facility to make a difference in the residents’ lives. A simple gesture such as donating care packages to the facility, a free lunch for the staff, or offering to run errands for residents can make a significant impact.
