Making connections, making a difference
Nav-CARE is a compassionate community program designed to help people in the community living with declining health.
People living with declining health often have unmet needs and social isolation resulting in poor quality of life. Many must make life changing decisions to accommodate new life realities. Getting around the community can become intensely challenging, and many do not know the services that are available to assist them. All of these things influence how people manage their health. Nav-CARE volunteer navigators are trained to help with these needs.
Hospice Halifax is proud to be named as one of five centres of excellence across the country in a Health Canada sponsored program to expand Nav-CARE across Canada.
Nav-CARE Clients
Nav-CARE clients are often those who are at risk for social isolation. They may not be receiving other services yet because their health needs may not have progressed to the point where they require home care services. However, they do live with unmet needs.
Your Nav-CARE Volunteer will…
Listen and help you identify and make important decisions
Respect your privacy and will not share information without your permission
Help you find/access community services and resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Nav-CARE is a free of charge program offered by specially trained volunteers to regularly visit
people who are living at home with declining health that is affecting their quality of life.
Volunteers develop relationships with clients and have time to listen, support decision-making,
assist clients with practical things and find community resources to meet evolving needs—with a
goal to improve their quality of life.
“By having a volunteer navigator, you have someone who is committed to you, cares about you,
has the time to listen to you, and is able to understand what you’re going through” (Nav-CARE
participant)
This program is ideal for those experiencing loneliness or social isolation, recent loss, and
mobility or sensory challenges. It is also ideal for people who are having difficulty identifying and
accessing resources and making decisions or for those concerned about their caregiver’s
fatigue.
Adults living with declining health living at home or homelike settings who have quality of life concerns such as:
Loneliness or social isolation
Recent loss or multiple losses
Mobility or sensory challenges
Increased disengagement
Coping with transitions and multiple decisions
Difficulty finding or accessing information or resources.
Perceived need for the program: supportive services of a volunteer navigator: advocacy and assistance with decision making.
Those living with unmet needs despite receiving other services.
Contact Bisi Akintola, Nav-CARE Volunteer Coordinator, b.akintola@hospicehalifax.ca, 902 446 0929 (ext.301)
- Help locate local services and resources to help manage declining health
- Help you get to where you need to go
- Assist you in re-engaging in hobbies and other interests
- Talk you through important decisions and future plans
- Help relieve feelings of loneliness, isolation, and anxiety
- Offer one-on-one relationships tailored to your needs
- Book appointments
Find more information and see open volunteer positions on our Volunteer page https://hospicehalifax.ca/volunteer
Volunteers must have experience working with persons with declining health. Healthcare experience is helpful but not necessary to fulfill the duties of the role.
We recommend that prospective Volunteer Navigators have:
- Completed a previous volunteer training program (such as the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association training or equivalent)
- At least one year of volunteer experience (such as hospice)
- A valid criminal reference check and two reference checks if they are not known to the volunteer coordinator.
Learn more about open Nav-CARE volunteer opportunities
Questions?
If you have any questions please contact:
Bisi Akintola
