APIC
Personalized citizen support for community integration
“ An essential determinant of the health and well-being of seniors, social participation represents the involvement of a person in activities that provide interactions with others in community life and in shared and important environments, in a manner evolving, according to the time available and according to what is desired and meaningful for her. » (Levasseur et al., 2022)
Presentation of the different actors of the program: the senior, the volunteer and the coordinator
During this support tailor-made for approximately 3 hours per week during about 1 year, an elderly person and a volunteer companion are combined to achieve meaningful social and leisure activities, depending on the personal and environmental resources of the elderly person.
APIC is based on…
respect for the needs and interests of seniors
peer-to-peer exchange
respect for differences
the importance of inclusion in the community
3 key players
Accompanying person - volunteer
Accompanies an elderly person every week for approximately one year to encourage and support them in carrying out social activities, in person and remotely, according to their interests and resources.
Take a few minutes after each meeting to fill out a logbook.
Participate in a 2-hour initial training course.
Every 4 to 6 weeks, participate in meetings with other volunteers.
Elderly person who is encouraged and supported in person and remotely and for approximately one year in carrying out social activities, according to their interests and resources, by a volunteer support person.
Coordinating person
Explains the program, recruits and matches participants.
Conducts training for volunteer support staff.
Each week, monitors the logbooks.
If necessary, makes himself available for individual interviews (in person or by telephone).
Leads meetings every 4 to 6 weeks between volunteer support staff.
My APIC journey
I am a senior who would like to benefit from APIC…
I am looking for the organization near me that offers APIC. (Click here)
If I can't find it, I can contact the team to find out.. (Click here)
I contact and meet the APIC coordinator of the organization near me. During this meeting we will:
Talk about my interests and needs,
Make sure APIC is the right program for me.
If so, the coordinator will take the information they need to pair me with a volunteer companion.
If not, the coordinator will guide me to a more suitable service.
I am waiting for the call from the coordinator to be paired with a volunteer companion.
The coordinator will contact me and present the profile of the volunteer companion who has been selected for me. If I accept this match, the coordinator will forward my contact information to the volunteer companion and, if I wish for them to be present, will arrange the first meeting.
I am waiting for the call from the volunteer escort or coordinator for the first meeting.
When the volunteer companion or coordinator contacts me, we agree on the place, date and time of our first meeting.
I meet the volunteer companion for the first time. We get to know each other and discuss my projects and interests. We agree on the terms of the next meeting.
After this first meeting, the coordinator contacts me to check in.
Over the weeks, the volunteer support worker and I will have determined the frequency and format of the meetings. The APIC is now underway! I can contact the APIC coordinator at any time for support or to share my needs.
A few weeks before the end of the twinning, the coordinating person contacted me to organize the end of my support.
The volunteer companion and I are preparing for the end of the APIC.
Following the support, I meet with the APIC coordinator to discuss my experience and what I would like to do next in connection with this experience. If necessary, other services are offered to me. It's a time to take a break and look back at how far I've come. I'm proud of myself!
My APIC journey
I would like to become an APIC volunteer support person…
I am looking for the organization near me that offers APIC. (Click here)
If I can't find it, I can contact the research team for help and information.Click here)
I contact the APIC coordinator of the organization near me.
I meet the person During this first meeting we will:
To get to know each other,
Talk about my volunteer project,
Make sure I understand APIC and that it is the right program for me.
If so, the coordinator will take information to pair me with a senior.
If not, the coordinator will direct me to another type of volunteering.
I participate in the training
I'm waiting for the person's call
As a volunteer companion, I am contacted by the coordinator, who presents me with the profile of the senior she has selected for me. If I agree to be matched, the coordinator will: 1) send me the contact details of the senior and 2) ask me if I would like them to be present during this first
I contact the senior and we agree together on the place, date and time of our first
During our first meeting, the senior and I get to know each other and discuss their projects and needs. We agree on the terms of the next meeting.
After this first meeting, the coordinating person contacts me to ask for my
Once the matchmaking process has begun, the senior and I will have agreed on the frequency and format of the meetings. The APIC is then launched!
After each meeting I fill out a brief logbook which I send to the coordinating person.
During the APIC twinning, the coordinator is in regular contact with me to discuss our experience. Every 4 to 6 weeks, I participate in meetings with other APIC volunteers to discuss our experience.
A few weeks before the end of the pairing, the coordinator contacted me to discuss the end of the support.
With the older person, we prepare for the end of the APIC.
When the pairing ends, I meet with the APIC coordinator to discuss my experience and my future volunteer projects and, if necessary, she directs me to other
It's time to pause and look back. You can be proud of yourself! Your commitment has made a difference in the life of a senior!