Hospital Elder Life Program
The Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) is an innovative model of volunteer programming in which college student volunteers offer patient care designed to prevent functional decline and delirium in older adults.
HELP volunteers participate in 20 hours of specialized program education before serving our patients and are trained to interact with patients age 65 and older. They learn to implement targeted intervention strategies designed to improve the quality of the patient’s hospital stay.
HELP is currently offered at Geisinger locations in Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Bloomsburg.
HELP volunteers must be:
- 18 or older
- Enrolled in a healthcare-related curriculum at a college or university
- Committed to serving at least 100 hours (4 hours a week for 2 semesters) with the program
Tasks and responsibilities of a HELP volunteer may include:
- Support implementation of early mobilization
- Provide meal accessibility and assistance
- Implement therapeutic activities
- Engage patients in conversation and provide companionship
- Implement non-pharmacological sleep protocol
- Assist with hearing/vision adaptations
- Provide feedback regarding patient progress
- Interact with the patient’s care team
Applications to participate in HELP are accepted as follows:
- Fall semester: Apply in May; attend orientation early September; begin service in September.
- Spring semester: Apply in September; attend orientation mid-December; begin service in December/January.
- Summer term: Apply in February; attend orientation mid-May; begin service in May.
Questions? Contact volunteers@geisinger.edu or 570-214-6021.
