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When asked how she was doing in her new home, she said this:
“I have a lot of people around me, nurses, aides, but there is no one here just for me.”
What do you think she meant by “…there is no one here just for me?”
Even in an active care community filled with staff, feelings of loneliness and disconnection can run deep. Why?
Because everyone needs someone they can trust, confide in, laugh with, and feel truly seen by. As one older man observed:
“To be human is to be loved and to have someone to love and as far as I can tell, I am still human.”– Clarence, 92 years of age
And that’s where you come in…
Companion volunteers, recruited, screened, and trained, can be that “someone.”
Loneliness, isolation, and disconnection aren’t just painful—they can lead to people giving up. Research shows that people without regular contact with friends or family face significantly higher risks, including premature death. Many of the people living in long-term care have few or no visitors. That’s where you, as a companion volunteer, make a profound difference.
What You’ll Gain
By completing the volunteer training, you’ll learn the insights and skills needed to become a consistent, meaningful presence in someone’s life—someone who brings belonging, warmth, and a reason to look forward to tomorrow.
The training is interactive and engaging, with opportunities to respond to questions, reflect, brainstorm, and learn alongside other volunteers. When you finish, you’ll receive a Certificate of Completion to share with the volunteer manager at the community where you wish to serve.
The training was developed with input from long-term care professionals and is regularly updated as new research and best practices emerge.
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Ready to become a companion volunteer: Start here…
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