Table 1.

Description of the Volunteer Companion Role

Role description	• The volunteer companion is an unpaid member of staff, whose primary function is to observe those patients at high risk of falling.
Purpose of Role	• Observe patients at high risk of falling and notify nursing staff of all potential occasions where the patients may fall. • Engage patient in social interaction and perform diversional activities as appropriate. • Complement the roles of paid staff thereby enhancing service provision.
Activities	• Observe patients in the allocated patient bay and intervene as required to minimise the risk of patients falling. • Recognise and report immediately any change in patients' behaviour, which could increase the risk of harming themselves or others. • Social interaction with patients is encouraged. • Diversional activities including reading to patients, reminiscence, singing. • Recreational activities including taking patients for a walk in the wheelchair. • Helping activities including pouring a drink, cutting up food. • Therapeutic activities e.g. hand massage.
Activities not to be performed	• 'Catching' a patient who is falling. • Patient feeding. • Patient transfer (from bed to chair/wheelchair). • Patient toiletting.
Responsibilities	• Undertake the volunteer companion orientation and training program. • Volunteer for one four-hour shift each week for the duration of the trial. • Ensure that all patient information is treated confidentially. • Respect the values, customer and spiritual beliefs of patients. • Demonstrate sensitivity to privacy and dignity aspects of patient care. • The volunteer is covered by the hospital's workers compensation policy.
Reporting	• The volunteers report to the hospital volunteer coordinator but works under the direct supervision of the Registered Nurse. • Nursing staff communicate relevant patient information at the commencement of the shift.
Remuneration	• Nil, including no payment of expenses (e.g. Transport)