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Elderly patients lose 2-5 % of their muscle strength daily with bed rest in hospital. 10 days bed rest is equivalent to 10 years muscle ageing in the elderly. There is a big National drive around getting our elderly patients out of bed and moving. The focus is on doing what we can to maintain their function in hospital to maximise their quality of life on discharge home to a place of choice. Gentle Movement Volunteers are essential to helping our elderly patients maintain their strength and function through exercise whilst in hospital. Volunteers will be connecting with patients in our Pamela Bryant Ward in Teddington Memorial Hospital. Physiotherapists will prescribe specific exercises tailored to each patient which the volunteers will practice with the patients.

What will I be doing:
Liaising with Physiotherapy team to gather a list of patients to see each shift.
Promoting patient safety whilst in hospital through regular movement, nutrition, and hydration.
Approaching patients and encouraging them to take up Gentle Movement sessions.
Following a prescribed prone or chair-based exercise programme via 121 bedside sessions.
Supporting exercise classes provided by physiotherapy team.
Demonstrating exercises for patients and encouraging them to take part.
Facilitating suitable activities such as art, music, board games etc as appropriate for patients.
Reporting on any challenges experienced by the patient back to a clinical member of staff
What shifts are available:

Monday 09.00 - 13.00
Thursday 13.00 - 17.00
Friday 09.00 - 13.00, 13.00 - 17.00

Location:

Pamela Bryant Ward, Teddington Memorial Hospital

Are there any specific requirements for this role?

Able to demonstrate a sense of maturity as well as compassion and empathy for others.
Good communication and listening skills with a friendly attitude are essential as many of our patients have barriers to communication such as deafness and dementia.
An ability to use your own initiative and creative way to get patients moving.
Respect boundaries and confidentiality always.
No specific physio skills are needed; however, volunteers should have an interest in promoting patients’ health and well-being.

Essential requirement / commitment:

Over 18 years of age.
An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Commitment of at least 1 shift/3 hours per week for a minimum of 6 months
Participation in the mandatory training and induction programme and confidential discussion of any reasonable adjustments required to meet your needs.
To live our values through your volunteering role at HRCH:

How will I be supported and what will I gain from this opportunity?

Join an enthusiastic volunteering team of people who want to make a difference, just like you.
Learn new skills and develop existing skills.
A buddy to support you through your initial induction.
It can contribute to your personal development and confidence.
You will be making an important contribution to your local community throughout your volunteering journey at HRCH.
Invitation to volunteer events to celebrate and thank for the support they provide. An opportunity to meet other volunteers at the trust.
Bespoke training from our physiotherapy team.
Annual refresher training.
A reference to support applications – please kindly note that this is only provided after our minimum commitment has been met.

This role is for me, what next?

Please complete an online application via the Better Impact page.
Should your application be successful, we will offer you an interview.

Contacting the Volunteering Team

If you have any enquiries or would like to discuss anything further, please do get in touch:

Email: hrch.volunteering@nhs.net
Telephone: 0208 714 4087