Elderly Care Volunteering in Jamaica

Have you ever wondered what it is like to make often-neglected elderly people smile when they get the care and attention they need in their daily lives?

Because of poverty, many Jamaicans cannot afford to offer support and care to elderly relatives. Therefore, elderly care volunteers are often needed in Jamaica to support senior citizens, who are needy and chronically ill.

In Jamaica the government and non-profit organizations have stepped in to provide some help but the need for help is great and the funding inadequate, so there is a heavy reliance on volunteer services.

The staff at elderly care homes often have a heavy workload with long hours, so there is an urgent need for nurses, physical therapists, doctors, or professionals who can offer direct assistance.

Our elderly care programs provide a family atmosphere and an environment that fosters respect and love for the elderly. 

If you are looking for a worthwhile program and have an interest in the health and well-being of elderly care patients, an amazing experience in Jamaica awaits you.

Essential Program Information

Program Times

Our programs are usually run Mondays – Fridays from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. However, we can arrange shorter days for those who require it. Some programs might have activities on Saturdays which are normally pre-planned. We will help you to make the necessary arrangements.

Safety

At JVP, our mantra is “Your safety is our number one priority”. This means that our job is not completed until you arrive home safely. 

To ensure this, when you are in Jamaica you will never be alone. A Jamaica Volunteer Programs representative will always be available to you. In addition to this, on your arrival, we'll give you safety tips and strategies to use during your orientation. 

Like most other countries, Jamaica does have crime. However, our programs, routes, and destinations are designed around and away from those areas so you will always be safe. Even further, our volunteer home and program partners are located in some of the safest communities in St Andrew and Ocho Rios.

We provide 24/7 in-country support where our dedicated team members are always there to support you with any emergencies or other needs. This means that when you book with us you will be treated as if you are a relative visiting from overseas and provided with a safe home away from home. 

To further protect you, while volunteering you will be placed with a local mentor who will give you tips and support.  And, we offer more protection with full medical insurance protection through our partners for any unexpected illness or accident. 

Therefore, at all times you'll be surrounded by caring and trusted people to keep you safe.

Application 

You can apply at any time for all of our programs. However, we advise you to apply as soon as you can to ensure that you lock up your space.

Once you have paid your deposit and confirmed your place on the program, we will send you an email confirming your payment. This email will also include a link where you can download our Registration Handbook that will provide you with pre-departure reference and support information.

If you require any further information not covered in the handbook our staff is always on-hand to assist you.

Volunteer Experience Value 

If you are wondering if you can use your volunteer experience to boost your professional profile, then yes you can. At your request, we can provide you with a letter or certificate of completion detailing your volunteer activities and accomplishments. 

A volunteer experience abroad is a great resume booster and can be of great value when applying for college or a job. We’ll be glad to assist you to make it happen. 

Your working hours will be from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm in the afternoons with an hour for a lunch break. 

You'll be transported to your program site in the mornings and picked up around 4:00 pm after you have completed your day's work. You'll then be transported back to your volunteer home in the afternoons unless you have an activity or excursion planned for the evening.

Here is a list of some of the activities you can do at the elderly care homes on a daily basis:

• Provide administrative support to the organization;
  
• Read to patients who cannot see – many want to read the bible especially;
  
• Play games or work with art & craft;
  
• Assist in the preparation of meals or help with feeding;
  
• Massage or do physical therapy;
  
• Talk to them and just listen to their stories;
  
• Hold their hands and provide companionship;
  
• Help clean and organize their living accommodation;
  
• Take a walk with to get fresh air & exercise.
  

Most evenings you’ll go back to your volunteer home to hang out and plan for the next day.

Outside of arranged cultural immersion trips and excursions where you’ll have opportunities to experience some of Jamaica’s most amazing attractions, we continually look for eye-opening cultural activities for you to do in your free time.

Because of this we sometimes offer you opportunities to attend local events in the afternoons organized by our cultural ambassador/project coordinator.

Activities such as Jamaican dancing lessons, patois classes, and Jamaican storytelling are designed to keep you entertained, but more importantly, to further help you learn the Jamaican culture.

On the last Friday night before your departure, we have ‘Jamaica Night’ – where we will display some of Jamaica’s most popular food, play popular Jamaican music and also give volunteers the opportunity to showcase what they’ve learned about the Jamaican culture as well as showcase their own culture.