The Boroondara Volunteer Resource Centre is promoting this opportunity on behalf of Eastern Health.
HELP is a recently introduced program at Eastern Health that focuses on something simple, yet powerful: time, attention and human connection. Volunteers spend time with older patients to help prevent delirium — a sudden change in thinking and awareness that can occur during a hospital stay and lead to serious complications if left unaddressed.
“I’ve found it so rewarding,” says Daisy, one of the dedicated volunteers. “Just being able to spend time with people, making sure they feel supported and knowing I’m having a direct impact — it’s incredibly meaningful.”
Through HELP, trained volunteers provide practical, everyday support that helps patients feel oriented, engaged and cared for. This can be as simple as encouraging a walk, helping someone put on their glasses or hearing aids, offering companionship, or reminding them to drink enough water.
“These volunteers pop in for a four-hour shift to make sure no one feels alone while they’re in hospital,” explains Geriatrician Professor Peteris Darzins. “Delirium is a serious medical condition, but it is treatable and often preventable. We see it far too often, which is why we’ve invested in this brilliant, volunteer-led program from the American Geriatric Society, that helps stop delirium in its tracks.”
Delirium can come on suddenly and can be distressing for both patients and their families. That’s where volunteers play such an important role. “It can be a challenging time for many people,” says Emma Ham, Eastern Health’s Hospital Elder Life Program Coordinator.
“Delirium is quite common during hospital stays, but it’s usually short term and very often preventable. We see patients become disoriented or have a fall simply because they didn’t have their glasses on or forgot to do their assigned exercises. These are small things — but they make a big difference.”
HELP volunteers are trained to target these everyday risk factors, offering companionship, encouragement and gentle activities that support recovery.
Many volunteers say they value the structure of the program. “It gives them clear purpose and direction during each visit,” says the Volunteer Program Coordinator at Eastern Health. From students looking for patient-facing experience to retirees keen to give back, HELP volunteers are forming a caring community that truly makes a difference.
Patients supported through HELP often experience better cognition, improved engagement, greater independence and better overall outcomes.
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