Volunteers always needed at P.A. health region

The Prince Albert Meals on Wheels service delivers meals to local residents who are currently limited in their mobility or unable to venture outdoors.

Edith Kushneriuk has been volunteering with Meals on Wheels in Prince Albert for over 35 years. She said she first got involved with the program when an acquaintance approached her and asked if she would like to get involved.

“I went with her and from that day on it just worked out into me going regularly,” she said.

Kushneriuk said she really enjoys helping out and she plans to continue to help out on a regular basis.

“I enjoy meeting the people that we take meals to and visiting with them for a bit,” she said. “It makes me feel good to do something nice for people,” she said.

Edith’s husband George also helps out with the Meals on Wheels program. He said he first got involved 10 years ago and has enjoyed volunteering with his wife ever since.

For him the smiles he witnesses from those they visit make it worth it, and he encourages others to give it a try.

“I think that we are getting older and people that are younger should get involved with volunteering,” said George. “It’s helpful to others that can’t help themselves and its fun.”

Jahn said the Meals on Wheels program allows their clients to stay at home for as long possible and helps them to maintain their current quality of life.

“It allows them to maintain their independence, live a full and vibrant life and ensures that they receive some nutritious meals as well in case they do not have the ability to cook meals themselves,” she said.

Jahn said their clients also look forward to the company.

“Some people don’t realize that delivering the meals that is just one piece of it,” said Jahn. “Some clients might not see anyone else during the course of their day so they look forward to those volunteers stopping in and brightening their day and bringing that meal.

“It is such a powerful program.”

The Prince Albert Parkland Health Region is also searching for Peer Navigators.

Peer Navigators assist and support newly-diagnosed cancer patients by helping to ensure they are getting all of the necessary information they need to help make informed decisions towards their care.

Jahn said Peer Navigators play a very important role.

“In terms of insuring that patients are not slipping through the cracks, that they are getting all of the necessary information that they need to make informed decisions during their cancer journey,” she said.

Linora Johnston has volunteered with the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region as a Peer Navigator for the past year. Johnston, who is now cancer free, was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago.

She said she felt it was important to get involved and help those that are now also facing a cancer diagnosis.

“I found the process pretty daunting with all the information that people are giving you and all the information you have to learn and figure out,” said Johnston. “I luckily had my husband with me that kept track of the information, but not everybody is that lucky so it’s kind of nice to be able to help people out.”

“It is a big sea of information that comes at you immediately,” she added.

Johnston said when she is asked to contact someone she simply provides support and guides them to the appropriate channels of information so that any questions they might have can be answered appropriately.

“When someone tells you that you got cancer everything is a big deal all of a sudden and sometimes you don’t have the energy to think about all these little things,” she said. “So it is really kind of nice when somebody goes ‘oh yes no worries we got this and we got that.’”

Jahn said Peer Navigators are bound by the same oath of confidentiality as all employees and physicians and therefore no personal information is shared about the individual they are working with. She said currently there are approximately 3500 volunteers working across the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region.

“Individuals, groups, corporates, various businesses, church groups, community service groups, they all help to support,” said Jahn. “It may sound like a large number but there are a lot of people that are needed to get the work done.”

Anyone interested in volunteering with the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region can contact PAPHR’s Volunteer Services Department at (306) 765-6010 or contact them by email at volunteers@paphr.sk.ca.

srolles@panow.com

On Tiwtter: @sarahlynnrolles

by Sarah Rolles

Volunteers always needed at P.A. health region

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