Healthcare & Assisted Living

location
1 - 12 Wochen  ·  Alter 18 - 50+

rating  Brilliant 4.7  · 
  von Volunteer World verifiziert
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Highlights

  • Help those who are often stigmatised in society
  • Work in specialised living facilities
  • Help care for patients
  • Help with activities and day to day care


Besonders geeignet für

Alter 18+
Alleinreisend
Pärchen
Gruppen
50+

Über das Programm

Work in local assisted living centres, and other healthcare facilities, such as with the disabled, elderly, special needs or with children with HIV.

Our healthcare program in Costa Rica is aimed at those who are still studying in a medical field and allows you to gain some hands-on and practical experience whilst giving back to often stigmatised populations, such as those with special needs or the elderly. You will work in assisted living ...

Über das Programm

Our healthcare program in Costa Rica is aimed at those who are still studying in a medical field and allows you to gain some hands-on and practical experience whilst giving back to often stigmatised populations, such as those with special needs or the elderly. You will work in assisted living facilities and provide support and care to patients. 

Healthcare volunteers are typically assigned to either an assisted living facility for the elderly or a special school for children with disabilities. We make every effort to accommodate your preferences, but please understand that the type of facility placement may depend on availability and seasonal needs of our projects. For individuals with Physical Therapy training, specific placements are available.

As a healthcare volunteer, your primary role is to support the project staff in providing day-to-day care to patients, with a focus on offering general care and companionship.

At adult assisted living facilities, your responsibilities may include:

Organizing arts and crafts activities and engaging in talk therapy with the patients
Accompanying patients on walks
  • Sorting and distributing medicine
  • Changing beds
  • Assisting with feeding and bathing patients
  • Ensuring the overall well-being of patients
  • Helping with administrative tasks and filing

Please be aware that working conditions can be emotionally challenging, particularly when dealing with terminally ill patients. It's important to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for the one-on-one care you will be providing. 

At facilities catering to children with disabilities, your responsibilities may include:

  • Assisting as a classroom aide and coordinating activities
  • Providing extra attention and care to the children
  • Focusing on one specific classroom or area of the school during your program
  • Organizing arts and crafts sessions, engaging in playtime with the children, and aiding in physical therapy activities
  • Assisting the children during meal times

Throughout your project, you will have the support of our in-country coordinators. However, please note that they may not be present on-site every day, so your ability to work independently and exhibit leadership skills is essential.

For volunteers with Physical Therapy expertise, it's important to be aware that the local practices you'll be joining may have limited resources. Therapy methods could differ significantly from those considered standard in your home country. You'll be working in an underfunded facility, assisting and/or shadowing a professional physical therapist in treating patients with mobility issues. Depending on your experience, qualifications, and proficiency in Spanish, you may have the opportunity to deliver hands-on treatment to either adult or child patients.

Pre-med and first/ second year students
Volunteers must keep in mind that work can vary and the tasks that will be given to you will very much depend on your prior skill level and initiative. Those still studying medicine are encouraged to apply .

Location
San Jose is the capital of Costa Rica and located in the middle of the country. It’s in a great spot to enjoy the city, as well as trips to the beach on the weekends. Around a 2 to 4 hour drive from the city, you will find rainforests, mountains, volcanoes, and beautiful beaches. San Jose also has plenty of shopping, cinemas, restaurants and nightlife.


Tagesablauf

Sunday – Arrival / Welcome and Home Stay Introduction
Monday – Orientation day
Tuesday to Friday

Here is a rough guide on what to expect:
  • Breakfast at the accommodation
  • 3-4 hours of volunteer work either in the morning or afternoon
  • Your own lunch at the accommodation or project site
  • Free time
  • Dinner at ...

Tagesablauf

Sunday – Arrival / Welcome and Home Stay Introduction
Monday – Orientation day
Tuesday to Friday

Here is a rough guide on what to expect:
  • Breakfast at the accommodation
  • 3-4 hours of volunteer work either in the morning or afternoon
  • Your own lunch at the accommodation or project site
  • Free time
  • Dinner at the accommodation

Freizeitaktivitäten

San Jose
San Jose is the capital city and has plenty to do from city tours, watching a show at the theatre, markets, museums, parks, and city walking tours. You can also take day trips to mountains, volcanoes and the beach.

Arenal Volcano
Situated about 90 km northwest of San Jose is Arenal volcano, ...

Freizeitaktivitäten

San Jose
San Jose is the capital city and has plenty to do from city tours, watching a show at the theatre, markets, museums, parks, and city walking tours. You can also take day trips to mountains, volcanoes and the beach.

Arenal Volcano
Situated about 90 km northwest of San Jose is Arenal volcano, measuring 1,633 metres high. This scenic volcano is one of the most popular tourist attractions, with daily tours walking around it, plus it’s proximity to the nearby rainforest and waterfalls make it a popular place to visit.

Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio
Close by the where a lot of our projects are, this National park is one of the most popular in Costa Rica. With beautiful beaches, rainforest walking trails and an abundance of wildlife, this is a must visit for any traveller!

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
Another stunning destination to visit and a lush oasis of green rainforest and misty fog and clouds sitting at the top of the canopy. There are around 420 different types of orchids, ferns mosses, as well as a large bird population- perfect for nature and wildlife lovers. There are also night time walking tours.

Corcovado National Park
A stunning national park with plenty of hiking trails, natural swimming holes, waterfalls, rainforest, wildlife, flora and fauna and camping. Here you will find more than 400 bird species, monkeys, sea turtles, over 40 frog species, 100 butterfly species and perhaps even a jaguar.

Adventure activities
Costa Rica has so much to do for those who like to live on the wild side! From ziplining, white water rafting, canyoning, surfing, snorkelling, diving, horse riding and paddle boarding. This is a nature and adventure lovers paradise!

Beach Hopping
There is no shortage of beautiful beaches in Costa Rica. From white sand, black sand, beaches that meet jungle and all with crystal clear, blue waters. Many of the beach town have cafes, restaurants, accommodation and places to grab a fresh coconut juice, the perfect way to chill out after a hot day!

Voraussetzungen

Voraussetzungen

Mindestalter: 18 Jahre

Um an diesem Programm teilzunehmen, musst du zu Programmbeginn mindestens 18 Jahre alt sein. Es kann Ausnahmen geben, wenn du die Erlaubnis deines/r Erziehungsberechtigten vorlegen kannst oder wenn du von deinen Eltern begleitet wirst

Sprachkenntnisse

Du brauchst folgende Sprachkenntnisse: Englisch (Grundkenntnisse)

Ausbildung

Medical auf University Niveau

Polizeiliches Führungszeugnis

erforderlich

Benötigte Unterlagen

Proof of medical training/ or a healthcare student

Staatszugehörigkeit

Es gibt keine Beschränkungen. Helfende Hände aus aller Welt sind willkommen.

Andere Fähigkeiten

Professionals/ Students of medicine/ related field

Arbeitszeiten

Deine Hilfe wird an folgenden Tagen benötigt: Montag, Dienstag, Mittwoch, Donnerstag und Freitag

Leistungen

Leistungen

Dienstleistungen von Involvement Volunteers IVI

  • Airport pick-up
  • Host family accommodations
  • Breakfast and dinner, 7 days/week
  • 1 day orientation
  • 24/7 in-country support
  • Walking tour
  • Official certificate of volunteer service
  • Letter of recommendation
  • Spanish language tutoring table
  • Tandem Conversation Program
  • WiFi and computer lab
  • Salsa dance classes
  • Cooking classes
  • Free coffee and tea and on-site snack bar
  • Volunteer centre open 7 days/week

Abholung vom Flughafen Juan Santamaria International Airport

For San Jose...

Our local team will pick you up from San Jose airport on the Sunday before your project. Sunday night accommodation is included in the fees. 

If you arrive outside the pickup times, you can book a private transfer for an extra fee.

If you want to book any extra nights before or after your program, you can do this for an extra fee. 


Transportation whilst on your project...

Most volunteers either walk or take the bus, depending on how far their project is. Journey time varies widely from project to project, and you should expect to spend 15-60 minutes traveling each way. You might also need to change buses during your trip. Taxi’s are also widely available but do cost more than buses. It can be hard to change your project after you start volunteering, so please be ready to travel to your designated project every day. 

PLEASE NOTE: Volunteers are required to pay for the daily transportation to and from your project. Local buses are very affordable, and a one-way trip will cost around ₡350 (around $0.60) on average. Taxis are more expensive, and costs vary based on how long the journey is. A budget of around US $5 is recommend per day for transportation to and from your project.


Unterkunft

The majority of our volunteers will stay with a pre-approved middle-class Costa Rican family. You have the option of a shared or a private room. For shared rooms, you are placed with 1-3 other people of the same gender and age group. In San Jose, the host families live in the San Pedro area, which is around a 10 to 60-minute walk or bus ride (depending on where you’re placed) from the volunteer centre. You’ll be given a key to the house and are free to come and go as you please, but you must respect the house rules and practices of your host family

The host family can help you with washing laundry. There is a small charge of ₡2,500 or $5 per kilo (2.2 lbs) which is paid directly to the family. If you are staying at a student residence, hostel, hotel or apartment that does not have a laundry service available, you can use a nearby laundrette (lavanderia).

Verpflegung

Breakfast and dinner will be served 7 days a week and will usually be local cuisine, cooked by your host family. The food in Costa Rica is a mix of African, Italian, French, Chinese, and Spanish cuisines. Common food are grains such as rice, corn, and beans and different meats mixed with spices like coriander, saffron, parsley, oregano, thyme and nutmeg. The food is usually mildly seasoned and has plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Internetzugriff

Gute Verbindung vor Ort

Was ist NICHT inklusive?

Was ist NICHT inklusive?

Flugtickets

Der nächstgelegene Flughafen ist Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose. Wir helfen dir günstige Flüge nach Costa Rica zu finden. FINDE GÜNSTIGE FLÜGE

Reiseversicherung

Ins Ausland zu gehen ist ein Abenteuer, auf das man sich stets gut vorbereiten sollte. Plötzliche Krankheit oder Verletzung, Stornierung oder Diebstahl - eine Reiseversicherung für Costa Rica bietet die nötige Sicherheit. ANGEBOT EINHOLEN

Impfungen

Bevor du deine Freiwilligenarbeit in Costa Rica antrittst, solltest du dich noch einmal von deinem Arzt beraten lassen und deine erforderlichen Impfungen für Costa Rica überprüfen. IMPFSCHUTZ ÜBERPRÜFEN

Informationen zur Anreise

Program starts every Monday. Arrivals on Sat/ Sun. If arriving on Sat, an extra night is charged.

Verfügbarkeit
Jan Feb Mär Apr Mai Jun Jul Aug Sep Okt Nov Dez

Programmgebühren

1 Woche (Mindestaufenthalt) 929€
2 Wochen 1.267€
3 Wochen 1.605€
4 Wochen 1.918€
8 Wochen 3.011€
12 Wochen (Maximaler Aufenthalt) 4.090€
Durchschnittliche Gebühren 634€/Woche

Programmgebühren

634€ / Woche 1 - 12 Wochen Alter 18 - 50+

Zahlungsarten

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

KEINE KREDITKARTENGEBÜHREN


Dauer

1 - 12 Wochen

Anzahlung

Mit der Anzahlung reservierst du deinen Platz beim Freiwilligenprogramm. Zahlungen werden von PayPal abgewickelt, unserem vertrauenswürdigen globalen Zahlungsanbieter. Falls du keinen PayPal Account hast, kannst du die Anzahlung auch mit einer Kreditkarte bezahlen.


Ausstehende Zahlung

Deine Restzahlung vereinbarst du mit Involvement Volunteers IVI während des Bewerbungsprozesses. Normalerweise handelt es sich um eine Banküberweisung oder eine Barzahlung am Projektstandort.


Lerne deine Organisation kennen

Involvement Volunteers IVI

Brilliant 4.7 rating (204 Bewertungen)

Non-profit - gegründet 1989

von Volunteer World verifiziert

  Ausgezeichnete Antwortrate

Veranstaltet von

Lauren

Gesprochene Sprachen: Englisch

Über die Organisation

IVI are a non profit org with 28 years experience providing responsible volunteer placements in 15 countries worldwide. We help you connect with inspiring opportunities

Lerne deine Organisation kennen

Involvement Volunteers International delivers positive social change to developing communities and vulnerable populations through local, national & international volunteering.  Our projects empower the skilled & un-skilled to catalyse the efforts of local partners in creating a better world.


WHO WE ARE

Founded in 1989, IVI is a pioneer of overseas volunteering.  Back when there was no internet and phones were a luxury in many parts of the world, we traveled to developing countries in search of credible NGO's in need of manpower and global volunteer resources.  Some of the many relationships we forged are utilized to this day. 

We are passionate about volunteering and giving back to society and in particular developing communities which are less fortunate than us.  In this way, we combine travelling with volunteering to help people make a positive impact overseas.

SOCIAL EXPERIENCES
All of IVI’s projects have a strong social element at the core.  With more manpower (& womanpower!) we can truly catalyse the efforts of our local partners.  This means you're sure to meet loads of like-minded people from all parts of the world.   This type of experience truly broadens your understanding of the world and yourself, opening your heart to new enlightened ways of thinking .   With your new found travel companions, you'll have plenty of opportunity to explore and have fun!  

Our projects create a unique platform to experience the true heart and soul of a destination rather than simply the tourist areas.   We'll involve you in meaningful & responsible volunteer work that really benefits the local communities.

AFFORDABLE VOLUNTEER TRAVEL
As a non profit org, we are not motivated by shareholder profits.  Our fee structure is fully transparent to ensure volunteers hard earned money is going directly to the areas where it is most needed.  It is vitally important to us that the presence of volunteers has a positive and sustainable impact on the local communities we work with.   

We charge a one off US$275 application fee per volunteer to cover the running of IVI including administration overheads, project inspection costs, marketing, and salaries.

The program fee starts at $150 p/week and goes straight to the in country management to cover arrival airport transfers, on the ground coordination, orientation, accommodation, meals, in country 24/7 project support, project development, donations and related administration costs.   

In comparison to many of our competitors, our programs are incredible value.

SAFETY & RESPONSIBLE PROGRAMS
With approx 80-90% of our volunteers being single young female travelers, volunteer safety is of the utmost importance.  All of our projects include a dedicated 24/7 in-country management support contact as well as a dedicated placement manager pre/post journey.  This ensures you will be cared for every step of the way.    The local teams are highly experienced and qualified to manage emergency situations.

All IVI projects have been personally inspected to ensure the standards meet necessary guidelines for quality and safety.  In addition, we monitor and maintain communication with local embassies to oversee potential issues in order to notify volunteers and their families accordingly.   

Our Australian team are available 24/7 and only a phone call away.

Our responsibility also extends to the local people which is why volunteers working in childcare related fields must provide a criminal background check before they travel.   Our ultimate goal is the long term development of the communities we work with, hence we work closely with our local partners to ensure that projects are needs driven and sustainable. 

SUPPORT

From your very first inquiry, right through to your welcome home, you'll have the same dedicated volunteer manager at every stage.  We are experts in the field and will provide you in depth insights about what to expect and how to prepare to ensure you have an amazing experience overseas.  Every project includes a detailed welcome pack which provides all aspects needed such as in country contacts, what to pack, cultural values, basic language guides and much much more.   

On arrival at your destination, you'll be greeted by one of our in-country team and in many cases 1 week orientation is provided to help ease you into the way of life and ensure you're equipped with the right customs to ensure a successful volunteer abroad experience.  

FUN!
Volunteering abroad is quite possibly the most rewarding experience you will have in your life!   We know this not only through our own experiences, but through the testimonies from thousands of volunteers we have successfully placed worldwide over 27+ years in operation.  Volunteering overseas is not only rewarding.   It's fun!   You're meeting new people, you're seeing new sights, and you're expanding your understanding of yourself and the world.  You're experiencing something real and life changing in many ways...  

GET INVOLVED WITH IVI TODAY!

204 Bewertungen · rating4.7

What a fantastic trip. Getting the opportunity to live in a village for a week was so incredibly special, and all of our hosts quickly became like family. The work itself was challenging at times but very rewarding, and I felt like we were making a difference within the communities that we worked ...
The team of us who were placed in Moala were instantly taken in by the family we were living and were made to feel part of the family. I am grateful for this experience, for the people I met and for the wonderful people who cared for us throughout the 2 weeks. This trip has inspired me to pursue ...
What an incredible experience to be able to live in amongst the island community, fully immersed in village life. I really really enjoyed my stay and it was so amazing to explore the island in my free time. In the classroom, it was mostly helping kids one on one with the work assigned by the ...
I am so blessed to have been lead by amazing dietician and naturopathic professionals who have inspired what I hope to be in this field one day. Words and pictures could never capture how life changing this experience was, and what beautiful souls these people hold. Pictures also don’t capture how ...
There were so many highlights to this trip! However the one that stood out the most was living in Moala village for one week. The team of us who were placed in Moala were instantly taken in by the family we were living and were made to feel part of the family. The people we visited in Moala, Yako ...
hannah rupp rating5

2024 at Primary Teaching Support

I had such a great time in Zanzibar. The accommodation is really good, it’s clean, you have a very sweet balcony and the bedrooms are good. Also the roommates and coordinators are were really nice 🥰 I really enjoyed my time at the school and I loved to work with the kids 🥰 I made so many ...

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