Vegreville, AB - Senior Caregiver Ambassador

The Organization
Caregivers Alberta empowers Albertans who provide care to family and friends at home or in a community setting. 

Every day, Albertans face challenges associated with aging, illness, mental and emotional health, or disability. But navigating healthcare and social support can be complex. So, unpaid family and friend caregivers step in to fill the gaps. Unfortunately, in doing so, many caregivers become overwhelmed and feel like they must face everything alone.

In RURAL AREAS of the province where health and social support are typically limited, we see caregivers, and especially senior caregivers, struggle more and more. 


The Role in Vegreville, Alberta
The Senior Caregiver Ambassador volunteer role is for someone who wants to help support unpaid family & friend caregivers in their community. While the program has a focus on reaching caregivers who are seniors, we want to make sure every caregiver in a community knows where to turn for support.

We typically recruit volunteers who are 55 or older for this role, but welcome applications from anyone 18+. 

Here are some of the ways you can support caregivers as an Ambassador in Vegreville, AB:

- share our brochures with caregivers or at local medical clinics and community facilities (libraries, seniors' residences, rec centres, etc)
- help arrange presentations for local community groups
- let us know when senior-focused or wellness-focused events are happening in your community so that we can participate
- help at our information table at community events and conferences
- share your own caregiving story for use on our communications channels (newsletter, website, or social media)

Most of our current Ambassadors have experience as a caregiver to a family member or friend. We also appreciate applicants who have an educational or work background in healthcare or community care. 

Time Required
The Senior Caregiver Ambassador role is flexible. You will choose your activities and time commitment. Some Ambassadors have an hour or two to give each month, and some Ambassadors have more. We welcome any and all participation!


Training Provided
A general volunteer orientation and Ambassador training:

- the history and purpose of our organization
- a caregiver snapshot (who are Alberta's unpaid family and friend caregivers?)
- the free programs and services we provide for caregivers
- how to make connections in the community (at senior-focused facilities and local medical clinics, libraries, etc)
- how to make a connection with a senior caregiver who shares that they're struggling
- the impact of storytelling to create connection
 
In addition to the training, Ambassadors from all over the province meet monthly online over Zoom to share successes, ideas, and get to know each other (not mandatory). 

Ambassadors will receive a "toolkit" that contains printed materials to share and distribute in their community.