The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

C O M M U N IT Y 39 Acclaim Health volunteer programs have life-changing impact Nikki Wesley/Metroland Hira Tariq, a volunteer with Acclaim Health, spends a few hours each week visiting with Sharareh Ashorie. Ashore lives with progressive multiple sclerosis and relies on others to carry out everyday tasks. Tariq's weekly visits have greatly improved Ashorie's quality of life and have enabled the 56-year-old Oakville woman to enjoy time outdoors, something she hadn't done for almost two years. ' O u r p ro g ra m s o n ly e x is t b e c a u s e o f v o lu n te e r s , ' sa y s s u p p o r t s e r v ic e s d ir e c to r NIKKI WESLEY nwesley@metroland.com It's a life-changing im­ pact Hira Tariq never imag­ ined possible. The Acclaim Health vol­ unteer was paired up with Sharareh (Sheri) Ashorie through the nonprofit com­ munity health-care provid­ er's friendly visitor pro­ gram. Ashorie, 56, lives with progressive multiple scle­ rosis (MS) - an auto-im­ mune disease of the central nervous system that has left her virtually house­ bound. Unable to independently move her motorized wheel­ chair for the past two years, the Oakville resident has relied heavily on personal support workers, who help with feeding and medical needs. Their time with Ash­ orie, however, is limited given their busy schedules; there is no time to help her look through family photo albums or accompany her outside. Enter Hira Tariq. Every Wednesday, Tariq turns out to the March of Dimes Supportive Housing building on Robinson Street, where she visits with Ashorie at home - weekly visits that have been ongoing since June 2017. The visits have been a "change of life," said Asho­ rie, who relies on Tariq's as­ sistance to schedule doc­ tor's appointments, man­ age paper work, and con­ nect with loved ones online, including a sister living in Germany and a brother in Japan. "Every Wednesday I'm so glad that I'm waking up," said Ashorie. "Oh, today I'm going to do this and this and this. And I can only do it ah because of Hira." Tariq looks back fondly on the pair's first-ever visit. "It was a great feeling when I came here and I met her," recalled the volun­ teer. "It was a great feeling, even though I wasn't sure how to drive the wheel­ chair." It took a few visits but Tariq got the hang of the motorized device and was keen on taking Ashorie out­ side. It would be the woman's first jaunt outdoors in two years. "I (felt) the warmth of the sun on me and the trick­ le of tears kept coming," said Ashorie, clearly moved by the experience. Tariq finds pleasure in assisting Ashorie and looks forward to their visits. "Every Wednesday I'm really excited to get up ear­ ly," said Tariq. "I get to go and meet Sheri and help her with everything, from calling to make appoint­ ments, cleaning, organiz­ ing the cupboard and sup­ plies." For Ashorie, Tariq's help is invaluable. "It's very important in the stage that I am in that nobody judge you or your mental capacity," said the Oakville woman. "The best thing in Hira is I don't ever see judgment of any kind." The volunteers, she said, "are just here to be my joints, my hands, my brain and that's very important." Tariq is just that - and then some. As Ashorie clears her throat, Tariq springs into action, offering a drink of water, helping her cough and then wiping her eyes - practised motions full of care and tenderness. Ashorie is just one of hundreds of Halton resi­ dents who benefit from Ac­ claim Health's volunteer programs, which include friendly visiting, memory, teletouch (telephone reas­ surance) and home support exercise programs, as well as in-home hospice visits and bereavement support. Acclaim Health also relies on volunteers to lend a hand at the organization's adult day program. "We love our volunteers and want their experiences to be positive and reward­ ing," said Acclaim Health's Community Support Ser­ vices director Patricia Blakely. "Our programs on­ ly exist because of volun­ teers." Acclaim Health is cur­ rently recruiting addition­ al volunteers to support in­ dividuals throughout Hal­ ton. The organization of­ fers its volunteers orientation and training, provides ongoing educa­ tional opportunities and recognizes their benevo­ lent efforts at special events. "We do our best to match clients and volunteers who have a shared interest," noted Blakely, adding that volunteers are paired with clients, whom they visit for one to two hours weekly. Visits can take place in the service recipient's home or out in the community, pro­ vided the volunteer is will­ ing and the client is able to go out for coffee, shopping, a walk or a leisurely drive. More information on volunteer opportunities is available at www.acclaim- health.ca/volunteer. <D 00 CD cr E0) N>O OO Thinking of selling? Su C asa^ Home Staging & ReDesign www.sucasahomestaging.com 9 0 5 - 5 9 9 - 8 3 4 8 Voted BEST HOME STAGER in Oakville! 2017 tekville Need New Windows? « Door Dudes| W I N D O W A N D D O O R S P E C I A L I S T S3245 Harvester Rd, Burlington 905-333-6705 D ia m on d A w ard W in n er Visit their showroom to shop for Windows & Doors. 2017Pakville Get Results in 2018 UNLIMITED BOOTCAMP CLASSES $240 *first time members only I M A L ^ A T hP R IM A L ^ A T H L E T IC S f '(EVOLUTION OF FITNESS! 647-896-3294 461 North Service Rd. W., Ut B36 www.primalathletics.ca DIAMOND AWARD FOR BEST IN FITNESS AWARDS 2017OakvilleBeaver readerschoice .oakvillebeavc .com All Styles, Technique & Theory Daytime & Evening Times Available G IV E T H E G IF T O F M U S IC R e fe r a F rien d , G e t O n e M o n th FREE! 1312 Speers Rd, Oakville (9 0 5 )3 3 4 -5 0 9 2 www.mglessons.com ! STEPHEN MACNEIL ALL LEVELS HONS.B.A. Private and Music 20 Years Beginners - Advanced j Teaching in Oakville Need a Professional Mover? H igh € n e rg y Transport Inc. dim e- /u/j/it www.highenergytransport.com 4 1 6 -6 8 4 -2 4 1 9 Voted BEST MOVER in Oakville. Call to get a FREE QUOTE. 2017 tekvi,,e mailto:nwesley@metroland.com http://www.acclaim-health.ca/volunteer http://www.acclaim-health.ca/volunteer http://www.sucasahomestaging.com http://www.primalathletics.ca http://www.mglessons.com http://www.highenergytransport.com Acclaim Health volunteer programs have life-changing impact Thinking of selling? Su Casa^ Need New Windows? Get Results in 2018 647-896-3294 AWARDS Need a Professional Mover? Transport Inc.