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Kitchener, ON | August 25, 2026— For patients in hospital, a simple conversation, a favourite song, or a few minutes spent playing a game can make a meaningful difference.
That is the heart of the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) at Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN), the largest program of its kind in Ontario, which celebrated its fifth anniversary this summer. The program is designed to prevent delirium and functional decline among older patients.
As HELP volunteers, Amelia and Yaruby spend time with patients through a variety of activities and interventions designed to promote connection, engagement and well-being. They may play word games or bingo, listen to music with a patient, help with meals, encourage movement or simply sit and talk.
“The most important thing is making patients feel supported and reminding them that they are seen,” said Amelia. “We get to talk with them, listen to their stories and learn from their experiences. Patients have given us so much great advice.”
The volunteers work to personalize their interactions based on each patient’s interests, background and needs. That can mean choosing music that reflects a patient’s culture or finding an activity that sparks a particular interest.
“Sometimes it is just about being there and having a conversation,” said Yaruby. “It is really rewarding to see the satisfaction patients get after spending time together.”
The program also uses volunteer challenges to encourage learning, teamwork and creativity. This summer, volunteers were invited to complete a range of interventions, including helping a patient get moving, providing a drink to five patients, donating a used book or magazine, and assisting a patient with a meal.
The challenges give volunteers an opportunity to try different ways of supporting patients while sharing their experiences with the rest of the team. They also serve as an icebreaker for new volunteers, helping them meet other members of the team and learn more about their role.
“HELP is about so much more than the individual interactions volunteers have with patients,” said Sarah Bourbonniere, Elder Life Expert and head of the HELP program at WRHN. “It is about building a community of volunteers who learn from one another, celebrate each other and work together to find solutions when challenges arise. Amelia and Yaruby are wonderful examples of the compassion and curiosity that make this program so special.”
Volunteers also celebrate each other’s milestones, from acceptance into medical school to other important life events. Amelia and Yaruby say Bourbonniere plays an important role in bringing the team together.
The experience has also helped shape the volunteers’ future aspirations. Both had an interest in pursuing careers in healthcare, and working directly with patients has strengthened their desire to work in patient care and with older adults.
“It is so rewarding and so much fun working with older adults,” said Amelia. “Even though patients are going through a difficult situation in hospital, there is so much we can learn from them.”
Through their experiences, the volunteers have also discovered how much they have in common with the older adults they meet.
“We are all people who want to connect, talk and feel supported, says Amelia.”
The HELP team, led by Bourbonniere with support from Elder Life Intern Kai Abdool, works to match volunteers with patients and identify opportunities for meaningful engagement. Through these everyday interactions, volunteers help make the hospital experience more positive while contributing to the well-being of older adults.
As HELP marks five years at WRHN, its volunteers continue to demonstrate that small moments of connection can have a lasting impact, providing personalized, inclusive, and patient-centred care that outstanding and reimagined.
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About Waterloo Regional Health Network
Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN, pronounced wren) represents the merger of two Hospitals into a single, integrated healthcare organization. Built on over 90 years of partnership, WRHN is home to seven regional programs and comprehensive healthcare services to meet the current and emerging needs in Waterloo-Wellington and beyond. WRHN is redefining the healthcare experience through collaboration and innovation, addressing barriers to access, advancing care delivery, and setting new standards in compassionate, empowered, community-driven healthcare. At WRHN, we provide outstanding care that’s personal, seamless, and reimagined.
Learn more at WRHN.ca.
Media Contact:
Cassandra Easton
Public Affairs Lead, Waterloo Regional Health Network
[email protected]
519-584-5548