Volunteer opportunities - Chilliwack Health Services

Volunteers are important members of the health care team. They offer service and support to our patients, residents, families and visitors while enhancing patient care and the overall experience at Chilliwack Health Services.

The Chilliwack Hospital Auxiliary members give thousands of hours annually and donate funds to support health care services and buy vital equipment needed for patient care.

• Thrift Shoppe: Help with customer service, cashier and organize gently used items in the Auxiliary Thrift Shoppe located on Main Street in Chilliwack.
• Information desk/wayfinding: Support patients, families and visitors by providing a friendly welcome, information, and help to find their way to their destination.
• Ambulatory Day Care/I.V. Therapy: Help staff to provide a supportive environment for patients during their medical procedure; offer warm blankets and refreshments.
• Activity cart program: Visit with patients while offering activities to reduce boredom, such as crosswords, cards, colouring, music or gentle fitness movements.
• Patient Assessment/Transition Home (PATH) unit: Tea service and visiting program – deliver tea and cookies to patients while providing a friendly visit.
• Pediatric observation unit: Encourage and play with children or their siblings on the pediatric observation unit.
• Knitting program: Knit or crotchet baby clothes, blankets, toques or socks.

Since 1935, members of the Service League have been generously supporting Chilliwack Health Services with fundraising for hospital equipment and patient comfort items. They also provide emotional support to patients in a variety of outpatient clinics.

• Gift Shop: Offer assistance to patients and visitors with making purchases from the gift shop; operate cash machines and replenish stock.
• Eye Clinic, Orthopedic Clinic, Surgical Day Care: Offer emotional support to patients, photocopy, collate charts and assist staff as required.
• PATH (Geriatric) Unit tea service and visiting program: Serve tea and cookies to patients while providing a friendly companionship visit.

Community volunteers contribute by providing social and emotional support in patient or long term care areas:

• Emergency: Enhance communication and provide comfort and support to patients, families and visitors in the Emergency Department.
• Ambulatory Day Care and Outpatient Clinics: Provide emotional support to patients who are receiving medical and/or surgical treatments; assist staff with non-clinical duties.
• Activity cart visiting program: Encourage patients to participate in leisure activities; provide companionship and social interaction.
• Volunteer Resources, Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation: Help behind the scenes with data entry, office work, or research.
• Paediatric Observation Unit: Provide playtime, companionship and social interaction with patients and/or their siblings.
• NETCARE Day Program for Older Adults: Volunteers support older adults to participate in recreation and leisure activities at the day care centre. Shifts are weekdays between 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Chilliwack General Hospital is also fortunate to have partnerships with many agencies:

• Chilliwack Hospice Society: Visitation volunteers provide support to terminally ill patients and their families and friends on the Chilliwack General Hospital palliative care unit.
• BC Pets & Friends and St. John Ambulance: Trained pet and friend teams visit with patients and residents who love animals.

Volunteers must meet the following requirements to be a successful candidate:

• A criminal record check
• Minimum age: 16 - 18 years (depending on the program)
• Minimum commitment: 75 hours

• Step 1 Application: Complete the application form
• Step 2 Interview: Only candidates who qualify for available positions will be contacted for an initial interview
• Step 3 Screening: Criminal record check and references will be required
• Step 4 Orientation: Attend a volunteer orientation session
• Step 5 Placement: Training and placement following orientation

Priority for placement in the VolunTEEN program at Chilliwack General Hospital is given to students who have prior health care volunteer experience. Please complete an online application for volunteer positions at Heritage Village or Bradley Centre.