Fresh from the oven – engagement and understanding of clients in the Geriatrics program

Nine Corporate Volunteers from Loyalty One Canada Inc. visited CAMH on June 23 to bake with the clients and staff from the Geriatric Mental Health program. After an excellent introduction to the unit and the geriatric mental health system by Gabriella Golea, Administrative Director, volunteers got to baking. They supplied baking goods and then whipped up cookies, muffins, brownies and an assortment of tasty treats.

For Nicole Scavuzzo of Loyalty One, the orientation helped set and contextualize the environment, the clients’ needs and CAMH’s work.

“I really didn’t have much background on your work and partnerships within the community,” she said. “I did not expect, nor had I even considered the aging population of your clients and their specific needs.”

Loyalty One Canada volunteers and staff from CAMH’s Geriatric Mental Health Program present some of the baked goods of their labour together after a day spent engaging clients of the program.

Nicole added that the biggest myth dispelled for her was that clients with mental illness and addiction “live a community lifestyle and are not ‘patients’ in hospital beds.”

“Understanding more about [CAMH’s] plans to rebuild the property as a community setting is really an incredible project,” Nicole added. “CAMH is such a compassionate and incredibly warm environment. Please continue to do the great work you do to educate the broader community. It is truly amazing.”

“We received such a warm welcome and the appreciation of the staff was wonderful. It was so nice to receive the certificate at the end and we appreciate the effort everyone went to make us feel so welcome,” commented another Loyalty One corporate volunteer. “It takes very special people to work in this environment and I commend you all.”

Jim Davey, CAMH Corporate Volunteer Coordinator, said these visits not only provide the community with opportunities to learn more about the work CAMH does, it “goes a long way to reducing the negative perceptions and stigma of those who live with mental illness.”

“The Geriatric Mental Health program through the leadership of Rong Ting, Gaby Golea, and Joanne Uyede and the entire staff and clients in the program were open and welcoming to the Loyalty One volunteers.” Jim added

For more information about the Corporate Volunteer program please contact Jim Davey at 416-535-8501 ext. 6238.