Jewish Seniors Alliance of BC
Updated: Sep 4
Course registration now OPEN!
September 2026
1. Seniors Peer Support Course
October 2026
2. Friendly Visiting Course
Registration Now Open!
Thanks to funding from United Way BC, these training opportunities are being offered to volunteers affiliated with participating community organizations across British Columbia, including Tonari Gumi.
Please see below for details of the two courses.
Both courses provide training for volunteers who support and play a leadership role in assisting seniors in the community who may be experiencing loneliness, social isolation, loss, grief, or life transitions.
Training is delivered in English.
1. Seniors Peer Support Training
Total Training Hours: 48 hours Format: 12 sessions
11 sessions online via Zoom
1 in-person session
Main Topics Include:
Psychological and emotional support
Active Listening
Appropriate boundaries
Loss and life transitions
Basic peer support models
Seniors Peer Support Course Website:Jewish Seniors Alliance of BC – Seniors Peer Support Course
⚠️ Important Information About Eligibility
To participate in the Seniors Peer Support Training, participants must meet one of the following requirements:
Be 55 years of age or older
OR
Be a staff member of a partner organization and provide a written request explaining the reason for participation.
September–October 2026 Training Schedule
SPS JSABC/VCH Training
September 15, 17, 22, 24, 29October 1, 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22
Please contact Tonari Gumi Community Services before proceeding with registration.
In particular, participants under 55 years of age will require a recommendation/request letter from Tonari Gumi.
If you are interested, please contact Tonari Gumi Community Services:
KumiEmail: services@tonarigumi.ca Tel: 604-687-2172 ext. 301
Starting this year, registration through the Training Registration Form is required to help ensure smooth communication with participants.
2. Friendly Visiting Training
Total Training Hours: 18 hours Format: 6 sessions
Online sessions via Zoom
Plus 1 in-person session
Ahead of the training courses planned for October and November, they will hold an online Friendly Visiting Training Information Session to provide for you to understand the course and have an opportunity to ask questions.
Information Session
Date: September 23, 2026 Time: 1:00 p.m. Format: Zoom
There is no cost to participate in the training.
The Session will be covering;
What volunteers learn during the 18-hour training
Experiential and hands-on training methods
The October and November training courses planned for this fall
How participating or
The JSABC trainiganizations can take part
More Than Just Good Intentions — Practical, Experiential Training
When we send a volunteer into the home of an older adult, we do not want them to arrive with only good intentions.
We want volunteers to visit seniors feeling well prepared, confident, informed, and supported.
Not Just Lectures — Experiential and Practical Training
The Jewish Seniors Alliance of BC (JSABC) is highly regarded for providing experiential, interactive, and practical volunteer training.
The Friendly Visiting Training consists of six sessions totaling 18 hours and is designed for volunteers aged 18 and older.
Rather than simply listening to lectures and gaining knowledge, participants learn through discussion, practical exercises, role-play, case studies, reflection, and realistic situations that volunteers may encounter when supporting older adults.
We believe this kind of preparation is extremely important.
Visiting an older adult may seem simple at first. In reality, volunteers may encounter situations involving loneliness, grief and loss, family concerns, changes in health or cognitive functioning, difficult conversations, questions about appropriate distance and boundaries, or uncertainty about whether they should intervene themselves or seek help or guidance from someone else.
A well-prepared volunteer needs to understand not only how to connect with another person, but also:
What their role is
What is outside their role
How to recognize situations that may require concern
When and how to report or discuss concerns with their organization
Topics Covered Include:
Active Listening
Empathy and Communication
Loneliness and Social Isolation
Building Meaningful Relationships
Professional Boundaries
Confidentiality and Handling Personal Information
Ageism
Diversity and Cultural Considerations
Grief and Loss
Understanding Mental Health
Understanding Dementia
Volunteer Safety
Situations Requiring Ethical Decision-Making
Community Resources and Support Services
Volunteer Self-Care
Bring Your Knowledge and Skills Back to Your Organization
Participants do not need to become volunteers with the Jewish Seniors Alliance.
We strongly encourage volunteers from other community organizations to participate as well.
The knowledge and skills gained through the training can be applied to the seniors volunteers are already supporting, as well as to the work and programs of their own organizations.
For participating organizations, this is a valuable opportunity to ensure that volunteers have the knowledge and skills they need before visiting seniors in their homes, developing one-to-one relationships, or supporting older adults who may be experiencing isolation or other situations where additional support is needed.
We warmly welcome volunteer coordinators, program managers, staff members, and others involved in developing and supporting volunteers who work with seniors to participate.
Please feel free to forward this information to your colleagues and to other organizations in your network.
We strongly believe that while good intentions can inspire someone to take the first step into volunteer service, good training gives volunteers the knowledge, confidence, and skills they need to make a meaningful difference.
