Elderly Care Program in Ecuador

  Ecuador

• Quito: 
Quito
• All Other Regions of Ecuador: 
Pichincha

Durations of Program: 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months, 7-12 months, 1-2 years and over 2 years
Typical Duration of Program: 9-12 weeks
Dates: all year through

Description: Program Description
Elderly Care centre is a home for approximately 150 elderly people. In Quito there are over 1500 'abandoned' old people living on the streets without families to care for them. They beg or sell cigarettes, chewing gum and trinkets living a life of solitude and misery.

This centre provides a loving home for elderly people. They are able to live together and enjoy a sense of community. They receive proper medical support, physiotherapy, social and mental support. A staff of twenty five Ecuadorians work on site including doctors, nurses, cooks and cleaners.

Volunteers are asked to offer care, attention and love to the residents. Most of the residence are fit, healthy and would thrive off the stimulation that young people could provide. Human interaction is important as many of the residents feel neglected and isolated. There is a project already established for making handicrafts, carpentry, painting, and gardening, which volunteers are encouraged to help with. Many of the elderly suffer from arthritis, back pains and lack of mobility. Volunteers are required to assist qualified staff in treating these problems.

Volunteer Work Activities
*Helping to prepare the menus for the elderly people.
*Caring for the elderly people and giving them companionship.
*Organizing cultural activities and sports that will help their physical development.
*If any of the volunteers are psychologists their principal activity would be to help out in that area.

Duration
The Elderly Care program requires that volunteers work a minimum of 2 months in the project.

Highlights: You should expect to have two full days off every week, but not necessarily on the weekends. The project base is in a good location for travelling into central Quito where other volunteers are based. It is also in a good position for those wishing to escape from the city and explore the breath-taking national parks and surrounding countryside.

Qualifications: All the volunteers need to have some knowledge of the spanish language before starting their volunteer work. If the volunteer is not at this level, Ecuador Volunteer could help him/her to find the best program to improve his/her Spanish skills before starting the project. Psychologists are welcome!

Cost in US$: 165-360 USD/month

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Ecuador Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently Or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Other

Ecuador Volunteer Foundation's Mission Statement: We are Ecuador Volunteer, an international nonprofit organization founded in 1999 committed to the provision of volunteering opportunities in social, educational and community development in Ecuador. Voluntary work opportunities based around Quito and main programs offer experiences of cultural exchanges, work and help with local people. We arrange voluntary placements in the environmental or community area. The environmental involves working in nature on a wide variety of projects, the community works are about helping street children, elderly people and educating people. We dedicate ourselves to alternative solutions to these problems, to make a difference and create a better world in Ecuador.

Year Founded: 1999