People of Perley - Heather Moxley

Heather Moxley's Perley Health experience began in 2007, when her father moved in. She and her sister spent so much time visiting their father at Perley Health's Veterans' unit, they chose to volunteer. The pair, together with Heather's therapy dog, Tobi, help to ensure positive resident experiences, particularly with social and recreation activities in the Veterans' units.

Heather chairs the Perley Health Family and Friends Council (FFC). In 2022, the FFC group earned the June Callwood Award, from the Government of Ontario, for Outstanding Achievement in Volunteerism. The FFC's mission is to promote safe, compassionate and quality care to Seniors and Veterans. The Council works with Perley Health's Volunteer Services team, facilitating collaboration among residents' advocates, management and staff.

No week is the same for Perley Health's 400 or so volunteers. Heather explains that she performs tasks in four main areas: Therapeutic Recreation, Family Transition, Family & Friends Council, and Tobi's new weekly pet therapy visits. As a Family Transition volunteer, Heather helps residents from their first day at Perley Health, through to end-of-life care.

Volunteer satisfaction comes in many forms. It includes simply listening to Veterans. Not long ago, a young new volunteer, originally from Korea, had the opportunity to speak with a Canadian Korean War Veteran who was receiving palliative care. Comforting the Veteran was a special moment, Heather says. “He was honoured to have that time with the Veteran. To have that personal story was amazing.”

The COVID-19 pandemic took a bite out of Perley Health's volunteer numbers, and severely limited the kinds of support they could offer to residents. Most returned to volunteering after the crisis passed, and their numbers continue to grow.

 

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"We volunteered while we were here with our father and then we say that we forgot to go home afterwards and continued to volunteer. And so many of the people we meet, we knew then.” - Heather Moxley, Volunteer, Chair, FFC