Volunteer work with elderly people

Elderly Care Program

Program Description

The Elderly Care Centre provides a home for approximately 150 elderly people. In Quito there are over 1500 ‘abandoned’ old people living on the streets without families to care for them. They beg or sell cigarettes, chewing gums and trinkets, living a life of solitude and misery.

This centre provides a loving home for them. They are able to live together and enjoy a sense of community. They receive proper medical support, physiotherapy, social and mental support. A staff of twenty five Ecuadorians work on site including doctors, nurses, cooks and cleaners.

Volunteers are asked to offer care, attention and love to the residents. Most of the residents are fit, healthy and would thrive off the stimulation that young people could provide. Human interaction is important as many of the residents feel neglected and isolated. There is a project already established involving activities like a painting, and gardening, which volunteers are encouraged to help with. Many of the elderly suffer from arthritis, back pains and lack of mobility. Volunteers are required to assist qualified staff in treating these problems.

Volunteer Work activities

• Help in preparing the menus for the elderly people.
• Caring for the elderly people and offering them companionship.
• Organizing cultural activities and sports activities to improve the physical well-being of the elderly.
• If any of the volunteers are psychologists their main activity would be to help out in that area.

Duration

The Elderly Care program requires that volunteers work a minimum of 2 months in the project.

Free Time

You should expect to have two full days off every week, but not necessarily on the weekends. The project’s base is in a good location for travelling into central Quito where you can find other volunteers. It is also in a good position for those wishing to escape from the city and explore the breathtaking national parks and the surrounding countryside

Requirements

All the volunteers need to have some knowledge of the spanish language before starting their volunteer work. If the volunteer is not at this level, Ecuador Volunteer could help him/her to find the best program to improve their Spanish skills before starting the project.