People of Perley - Mike Champagne

Mike Champagne had been looking for an additional volunteer opportunity, when a friend suggested he look into Perley Health's opportunities. Mike had some experience with long-term care, and with people affected by dementia, by helping to care for an aunt in Montreal.

That was five years ago. The Perley community quickly became like family to Mike, and the facility a second home. After training with Volunteer Services, Mike was ready to plunge in. “The first day was the most difficult,” he says. “I walked into the dining room and there were all these people that I didn't know.”

That didn't last long. “I've lost track of how many residents I know and recognize,” Mike says. “I know their names, I know the people, I know the staff. It just got easier and easier and easier as the friendships started to build.”

Mike is known for an innate ability not only to engage with absolutely anyone, but to communicate with people who have great difficulty being understood. “Some residents are non-communicative,” Mike notes. “I talk to everyone as if it's two-way communication, even though it may not appear that way initially.”

This special skill sometimes even takes Mike by surprise. “I can spend time with people and then all of a sudden, they might say something. A few times, weeks, months have gone by, and then there is a little bit of recognition. You don't think about what they can't do, but rather what they can do.”

Mike's “secret” for engaging with residents is this: “I ask the question, how are you? And then listen. I try to get to know what interests them and focus on their topics, finding out where they came from, their family, what they did for a living.”

His assigned duty is to escort residents to the dining room, and provide meal assistance when required. Mike says he just can't help but “enhance” those duties. “I started doing visits with the residents on my own time, seeing if they wanted to talk to me. If there's somebody new, I'll go and introduce myself” after portering residents back to their rooms. “That's become a thing now.”

His sales background helps Mike feel comfortable asking people questions about themselves. He also brings a special spark to his Perley Health volunteering. It is the spark of abiding respect, compassion, and feel-good moments. “I read that if you want to lift yourself up, lift up somebody else,” Mike says. “This is a great opportunity to better yourself, to put your head down at night and know that you've made a positive difference for all the folks here. I'm fortunate to be part of it.”

Perley Health's 400 or so volunteers range in age from 13 to 95. They include people of all abilities. Mike says he volunteers at Perley Health because it is an opportunity to give back, and also because he gets so much from it, including the chance to gain wisdom.

“Where does wisdom come from in our society?” Mike asks. “It comes from the elders. Well, here's your golden opportunity, because there's quite a few here. There are a lot of Veterans here, with the most fascinating stories.”

Mike's cheery determination to make each resident feel important can't be measured, but it can be heard. A non-communicative resident he got to know was quite musical. Mike noticed a list of favourite songs on the man's wall. “So I took out my phone and started playing some Beatles songs. Out of nowhere, he started singing. It was just incredible. It was a really moving moment.”

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"I've lost track of how many residents I now know and it's not just the residents, but the staff too. You just get such a warm feeling and so many smiles.” - Mike Champagne, Volunteer