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Volunteers like Bilal Alnajjar love helping patients eat their meals because they feel part of a team that’s making a difference to patients.

When the patient said she was waiting for her family to come help her eat her meal, Volunteer Gail Jones used a few techniques she had learned during training for the new Volunteer Inpatient Program at The Ottawa Hospital.

“I was able to keep her focused and re-directed her in a variety of different ways during lunch, and she ended up eating her entire meal,” said Jones, a retired Food Services employee and long-time volunteer. “The nurses were thrilled because that patient never usually eats much.”

Jones and 24 other volunteers help patients eat three meals a day, seven days a week – the Meal Assistance component of the new Volunteer Inpatient Program.

“A nurse once said to me, ‘Wow! She ate all her food. How did you do that?’” said Volunteer Bilal Alnajjar. “That made me feel like I was making a difference.”

“Patients enjoy the companionship and volunteers find the role very meaningful,” said Sherri Daly, Manager of Volunteer Resources. “Feedback from staff has been fantastic. They greatly appreciate the support and see the results of increased meal intake.”

The program was designed by Volunteer Resources with a multi-disciplinary team to improve the overall health of patients through better nutritional intake, better hand hygiene, increased mobility and meaningful socialization. Other components include:

• Hand Hygiene: Volunteers talk to patients about its importance, particularly when, why and how to sanitize their hands, especially before meals.
• Move On: Volunteers help educate patients about their personal mobility needs. Volunteers sit at the bedside and guide patients through a chair exercise video on an iPad.

For more information, email volunteering@toh.ca.

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