Seniors Centre / Long-Term Care Volunteering
Provide companionship and support to elderly residents
Why It Matters
Highly valued for health, social work, and humanities programs. Shows empathy, patience, and community commitment. Particularly strong for nursing and occupational therapy applicants.
How to Start
Search your city and 'long-term care volunteer' or contact your local VON (Victorian Order of Nurses) chapter. Many facilities run intergenerational programs specifically designed for student volunteers.
Commitment
- Medium commitment: a few hours most weeks during the school year.
- Best starting grade: G9
- Most facilities accept volunteers from age 14 (G9). Consistent weekly visits over 2-3 years is ideal.
Programs It Supports
- Nursing
- Social Work
- Occupational Therapy
- Gerontology
Majors it supports
- Nursing (BScN) – high 80s to low 90s - very competitive at McMaster, UofT, UBC
- Social Work (BSW) – high 70s to high 80s
Universities where it fits
Our profiles for these schools suggest Seniors Centre / Long-Term Care Volunteering as a good fit for their applicants.
- McMaster University – Hamilton, ON
Similar extracurriculars
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