Volunteers needed to connect with New West care home residents

Claire Chan has always worked with children—she did it through and after university. 

But a few years ago, the Burnaby resident began to develop an interest for those on the other side of the population pyramid. 

"I have been interested in seniors' care and the elderly population for a while," explains Chan, who was curious to learn more about hospice care. "I wasn't very sure—I'm still not sure—whether I should make the career switch or not. Now ... I can just go to a care home and talk to the elderly, see what comes out of it."

Chan is one of many volunteers who help keep the Long-Term Care Resident and Family Experience Survey ticking. Heading into its second run, the first round of data was collected in 2016/2017. The aim of the project is to hear directly from seniors and elderly living in long-term care. There is also a family survey that runs in tandem, so that their loved ones can give feedback. 

The survey is carried out through the Office of the Seniors Advocate. 

"We are looking to survey every single resident in BC's long-term care homes," says Judy Zhu, who is the regional engagement lead for the survey. The 2016/2017 run involved more than 27,000 residents. "This year it is over 29,000 residents."

Questions in the survey cover about a dozen themes: everything from the temperature of the food residents are served, to privacy, staff responsiveness, and even the kinds of residents enjoy. Zhu says this will help inform decisions made while providing long-term care. 

With a changing population, Zhu points out that not everyone in care speaks English. That means those who want to participate but are wanting to respond in their first language will need help from volunteers able to speak their language.

"The survey is not a short survey, it's not a five, ten-minute survey. It's an intimate conversation to really try to understand each and every single resident," notes Zhu. "The data contributes to quality improvement across the system, and policy improvements."

About 500 residents in New West are participating among four care homes.

"There's Buchanan Lodge, Kiwanis, Queen's Park, Royal City Manor. And so those are the locations we are looking to have surveyors volunteer to be serving at within New West." While the surveying at Kiwanis and Queen's Park has wrapped, Zhu says there's still a major need for volunteers to help at Buchanan Lodge and Royal City Manor.

"In New West, what we've seen in the care homes we've already surveyed at is a demand for Korean and Punjabi-speaking volunteers," notes Zhu, who adds there is also a need for Mandarin, Cantonese, Italian, and German-speaking volunteers. 

And Chan adds the value and fulfillment is a two-way street: she's also grateful for the life lessons learned from doing the survey. Chan says her approach to older generations has changed. 

"The non-judgmental mind-set, this is something I've learned [through the program] when you're approaching the residents. In the early days I would have a lot of assumptions. I would assume, 'maybe they don't want me to approach them,' 'maybe that guy is cranky.' But after some visits, I realized, 'hey, maybe it's better to have a more open mindset. I'm not there to judge, I'm not there to fix anything. I'm there to listen with an open heart. If they're willing to share, I'll be there to listen."

Chan is also inspired by the calmness many she's spoken with. 

"There are ... seniors I have approached, and they have this sense, this feeling of serenity, and also acceptance, but not in the way they are passive or defeated," says Chan, "in their presence, you feel serene. And they'll tell you their achievements. Maybe it's not something really big ... but what they tell me makes me feel like they've achieved something in their life, and they're really happy about that."

"Language surveyors, volunteers who can give the gift of time ... is particularly special. What we've seen is that being a resident who does not speak English and only speaks an alternate language at a care home can be an isolating experience," notes Zhu.

If you're interested in helping with the survey, you can sign up online or call 1-877-952-9181.