Granite Ridge volunteers
'bring outside world in'
Friday, October 15, 2004 - Roderick Benns
With 224 beds, Granite Ridge Long Term Care Centre is a large facility in west Ottawa. But thanks to a massive volunteer base of people passionate about the residents at Granite Ridge, it doesn’t feel as institutional as it might sound.

That’s the assessment of administrator Linda Chaplin as she talks about the 165 volunteers at the long-term care facility, who were recently written about in the local newspaper, The Stittsville News.

"They invest an incredible amount of their own hours every month.

"It would be much more institutional (at Granite Ridge) without these volunteers. They bring the outside world in and bring residents’ previous lives back, in many ways," Chaplin explains.

Chaplin says one way she thinks about the volunteers is that they are either old friends – because they may have neighbourhood links to those who now live in the facility – or they’re new friends, thanks to their involvement in the lives of residents now.

The administrator says the volunteers – known as G.R.A.C.E. for Granite Ridge Assistance for Caring Excellence – are requesting charitable status from Canada Customs and Revenue Agency through an application process.

Chaplin notes the volunteers are wonderful for helping residents make a smooth transition into their new environment. She says the volunteers also take the time to do specific programs with the residents including taking them on outings, recreational activities inside the facility and dining-related activities.

Granite Ridge provides specialized programs for Alzheimer and dementia care, high intensity needs and palliative services. Anyone interested in volunteering at the facility should call Louise Beggs at 613-836-0331, ext. 779.