THUNDER BAY -- When Marcia Hiiro was asked to volunteer for a new hospital program, she jumped at the chance.
Volunteering at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre already, Hiiro was asked to help out with the Hospital Elder Life Program, which prevents delirium and functional decline when seniors are in hospital.
Volunteers help by assisting with meals, taking patients for a walk or just visiting. Hiiro said giving back and seeing the program's results, which launched five weeks ago, is very rewarding.
"I know that when I walk into a room I'm welcome," she said. "I know that when I leave I have a smile."
About 40 per cent of all patients at the hospital are seniors. Interim vice-president of patient services Aaron Skillen said HELP, which started at the University of Pittsburgh and is widely established in hospitals across Canada, made sense and shows that the hospital is committed to senior patient care.
"It was time to bring this program to Thunder Bay," he said.
Coordinator Kelsey Lecappelain said while the program hasn't been running long, cognitive and physical assessments have shown improvement between when a patient is admitted and when they're discharged from the hospital.
"So far the results have been positive," she said.
