Spiritual Care Services in the Vancouver Island Health Authority provides training for registered spiritual care volunteers working under the supervision of a staff chaplain in either acute or long-term care hospitals.
The long-term care volunteer training course is also open to representatives of churches and other faith communities who will be providing spiritual/pastoral care to their own members residing in long-term care facilities.
Long-Term Care Pastoral/Spiritual Care Visitor Training
Training for spiritual care volunteer visitors in long-term care facilities is offered annually.
The Capital Region Pastoral/Spiritual Care Visitor Training Committee, made up of chaplains, directors of spiritual care, and coordinators of volunteers from a number of long-term care facilities in the region, puts on the course.
The course usually begins in February of each year, and consists of seven 2-hour sessions over seven consecutive Fridays or Saturdays.
This course is intended for:
- people who are already spiritual/pastoral care volunteers in a long-term care facility, and
- people who are seriously considering becoming spiritual/pastoral care volunteers in a long-term care facility.
Course participants do not have to make a commitment to become spiritual/pastoral care visitors.
The Training Committee will inform those who complete the course of opportunities for volunteering and, if requested, will help them make contact with facilities that are looking for volunteers.
The cost of the entire course is $20.
The aim of the course is to impart knowledge and teach skills and attitudes necessary and useful for spiritual/pastoral care visitors in long-term care facilities.
The course emphasizes what is involved in spiritual/pastoral care of residents with dementia (Alzheimer's Disease and other conditions that impair cognitive functioning).
For more information on the course, please consult the 2012 course brochure (downloadable from the link on the sidebar on the right, in Adobe Acrobat PDF format) or contact Arthur Menu (250) 370-5733.