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Table 1 Description of the Volunteer Companion Role

From: Can volunteer companions prevent falls among inpatients? A feasibility study using a pre-post comparative design

Role description

• The volunteer companion is an unpaid member of staff, whose primary function is to observe those patients at high risk of falling.

Purpose of Role

• Observe patients at high risk of falling and notify nursing staff of all potential occasions where the patients may fall.

• Engage patient in social interaction and perform diversional activities as appropriate.

• Complement the roles of paid staff thereby enhancing service provision.

Activities

• Observe patients in the allocated patient bay and intervene as required to minimise the risk of patients falling.

• Recognise and report immediately any change in patients' behaviour, which could increase the risk of harming themselves or others.

• Social interaction with patients is encouraged.

• Diversional activities including reading to patients, reminiscence, singing.

• Recreational activities including taking patients for a walk in the wheelchair.

• Helping activities including pouring a drink, cutting up food.

• Therapeutic activities e.g. hand massage.

Activities not to be performed

• 'Catching' a patient who is falling.

• Patient feeding.

• Patient transfer (from bed to chair/wheelchair).

• Patient toiletting.

Responsibilities

• Undertake the volunteer companion orientation and training program.

• Volunteer for one four-hour shift each week for the duration of the trial.

• Ensure that all patient information is treated confidentially.

• Respect the values, customer and spiritual beliefs of patients.

• Demonstrate sensitivity to privacy and dignity aspects of patient care.

• The volunteer is covered by the hospital's workers compensation policy.

Reporting

• The volunteers report to the hospital volunteer coordinator but works under the direct supervision of the Registered Nurse.

• Nursing staff communicate relevant patient information at the commencement of the shift.

Remuneration

• Nil, including no payment of expenses (e.g. Transport)