Spotlight On: Community Volunteers

“I knew there had to be a better way to die than taking lots of medications and having lots of doctor visits,” said Gen Tuinstra, a Faith Hospice community volunteer.  “There had to be a better way to say good-bye.” 

 That way is hospice.

“I wanted to be a part of that,” said Gen who has been volunteering with Faith Hospice for three years both in the community and at Trillium Woods, the Faith Hospice residence in Byron Center.

Community respite and companion volunteers are an extremely important part of the hospice team according to Wendy Schaaf, Faith Hospice volunteer coordinator.  Respite volunteers afford caregivers a much needed break to run errands, attend church or take time for themselves.  Families can call the volunteer office and request a respite volunteer whenever they need one.  “If, for instance, the whole family wants to attend a wedding,” said Wendy, “we can provide a volunteer who will sit with the patient while the family is away for the day.”

Companion volunteers tend to see the same patients on a regular schedule providing a listening ear to those in nursing homes or living on their own.  “We try to schedule them for times when family can’t be with the patient,” said Wendy. 

Jackie Harvey, who has been volunteering for Faith Hospice for several years, said she will play cards or games with her patients, read to them—they especially enjoy the Bible—or “sometimes I just listen.”  Occasionally she takes them outside for some air or down to dinner if they are in a nursing facility. 

 “I go into their home with no other agenda than to minister to the patient,” said Gen, contrasting her role as a companion and respite volunteer with other hospice team members who maybe involved with the physical care of the patient.

 Volunteers receive intensive training before meeting their first patient, according to Wendy.  There are four training sessions totaling eight hours of instruction.  The first provides introductory and background information and subsequent sessions deal with the mind, body and spirit.  Volunteers learn what bodily changes to expect, discuss spirituality versus religion and hear about different beliefs and customs.  Volunteers are also able to get field experience by shadowing an experienced hospice worker.    Training classes are held four times a years, and the days and hours vary so that even someone with a fulltime job could participate.  Volunteers do not need to give a minimum number of hours, according to Wendy.  “They can volunteer once a week or once a month, it’s up to them.”

The volunteers feel they get as much, if not more, out of volunteering than the patients and families get out of having them.  Jackie was a hospice volunteer for years in Maryland and upon moving to the Grand Rapids area her first thought was, “when we get there, I have to find a hospice.”

“It’s so worthwhile,” said Kelly Morse about her experience as a Faith Hospice volunteer.  “They appreciate it so much.”  According to Gen, “I’m always blessed when I go to someone’s home.  I’m so rewarded.”

One particular patient stands out in Kelly’s mind.  Kelly spent time with her on Thanksgiving and visited with her on New Year’s day when it was obvious she was dying.  While it was sad, Kelly also found it to be a “spiritual moment” for her and an incredible experience.

 Kelly, who is also a licensed beautician, recalled another patient whose hair she’d cut and styled with the aid of the woman’s husband.  They’d been married 65 years, and he had tears in his eyes as he gently cradled his wife’s head.  When Kelly left, she was smiling because she had been privileged to “witness such love between two people.”

“I try to meet the people where they are,” said Gen.  “I try to take away their hurt and their bruising, but sometimes all I can do is just listen.  Besides, hospice operates on a team approach, and there are social workers and chaplains who also do their part.”

Our community volunteers are a particularly important part of that team, and we feel truly blessed to have them.

“I’m going to do it forever,” said Kelly. 

For more information on becoming a Faith Hospice volunteer, call the volunteer office at 616-356-4859.

August 11th, 2009 | Posted in Community, General | Share this on Facebook or Twitter