Volunteer Newsletter Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves. ~ Sir James M. Barrie 2017 / Volume 2 To our wonderful volunteers, As we reflect on 20 years of honoring life and offering hope, we are reminded that the perfect end-of-life experience would not be possible without our 750+ dedicated volunteers who actively serve our patients and their families in so many capacities. On behalf of our National Team, I thank you. It is truly an honor and a privilege to work side-by-side with all of you to provide an individual and meaningful experience for all those we serve. Happy Volunteer Appreciation Week! Annemarie Switchulis, RN, MSN President and Chief Operating Officer Seasons Healthcare Management, Inc. TRUE HOPE RECOGNITION Ana X. Garcia Volunteer Services Coordinator, Broward, Florida At Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care of Broward County, Florida, our volunteer Charity embodies excellelnce every day. Charity Good is a very seasoned volunteer in our Broward County, Florida program who exemplifies TRUST every day. Charity started with our Miami site and then helped Seasons Broward office open its doors in 2015. She demonstrates OWNERSHIP by volunteering on a regular basis in the office every other week and visiting our patients throughout the month. Charity has been a tremendous asset to all of our Seasons patients, their families and our staff. She shows EXCELLENCE by often going above and beyond to help those in need. We are lucky to have Charity in the Seasons volunteer family!
Now is the Time to Garden! By: Amelia Vastola, LSW Volunteer Services Coordinator We come from the Earth, we return to the Earth, and in between we Garden. ~ Alfred Austin During this Spring season, Honor Life and Offer Hope through a Gardening Activity with those you serve. What you will need: w Plastic Table Cloth and Apron w Flower Pot Plain or Decorated by Patient w Potting Soil (Pebbles and Sand for Succulent Planting) w Seeds, Small Plant, Herb, or Succulents w Gardening Gloves w Small Spade w Water w Sunshine w Love For Green Thumbs: Consider starting from a seed. Bring a small piece of plastic wrap to cover the top of the flower pot. This will help nurture the seedling to have a healthy start while on a sunny or warm windowsill. For People with Dementia: Gardening serves as an amazing sensory experience. Consider using vibrantly colored flowers. You can also plant herbs! Plant Lavender to promote peaceful calmness, Rosemary to stimulate the mind and memories, and Basil or Rosemary to honor years spent feeding one s family. For the Low Maintenance Gardener: Plant succulents. They are very hardy and the plant will survive even if it s only watered monthly during your visits. To Celebrate or to Express Love & Gratitude: Help those you serve prepare a decorated potted plant to gift to a loved one or as a way to say thank you to their caregivers. Inspired to complete a Legacy Project? Use acrylic craft paint to create fingerprint/thumbprint or handprint artwork. Happy Gardening!
Engaging Patients with Dementia Carrie Johnson Volunteer Services Coordinator, Newark, DE They are constantly asked to be creative and thoughtful in their approach to the time they spend with their assigned patients struck with this debilitative diagnosis. Because volunteer assignments for dementia patients can be some of the most demanding and difficult requests made by staff, the Volunteer Coordinator plays a huge part in the success of the volunteer s interactions. One of our current Delaware volunteers, Nancy Berg, has become our expert dementia volunteer. She is Seasons Delaware s go-to for helpful information, experiences and suggestions not only for other volunteers but our staff as well! She truly believes that these patients are so much more than their disease; there is a heart, soul and mind in these men and women. Nancy created a dementia volunteer kit on her own and found it so beneficial that she now uses it with all her patients, regardless of diagnosis. The Delaware program has since used Nancy s recommendations to create kits for other volunteers; most of the items come from local dollar stores: Volunteers who support our patients with dementia are some of the most patient and humble volunteers we have. She truly believes that these patients are so much more than their disease; there is a heart, soul and mind in these men and women. Scented lotion to provide gentle hand rubs A large font crossword puzzle book A few Chicken Soup for the Soul books. We have a general one, one about dogs and cats and the most loved is Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul. A deck of regular playing cards The game of Yahtzee Pocket size Holy Bible A set of dominoes A few children s books - these are good for the dementia patients as they can look at the pictures (if they can see) and the stories are short Music CD s that can be used in the DVD players/cd Players if they have one. Our Music Therapist suggested Big Band Ballads, 60 s-70 s Country Western, and Showtunes CDs. There are various other ideas that volunteers can work together with a patient on such as legacy projects, sensory boards, or even just conversation and hand holding. All our volunteers are special regardless of their role within Seasons. Never forget what an impact you have on all our patients, families and staff when you donate your time, talents and energy to Seasons. If you have any other suggestions or would like to request a kit, please speak to your Volunteer Coordinator regarding this opportunity.
Ryana Goldberger, MSW, LCSW National Director, Supportive Care & Patient Experience I was once teased by my supervisor that if it s wet and doesn t belong to you, don t touch it! While that s a good rule to start with, infection control practices go much further than that. It s important to maintain standard precautions to protect yourself and our patients. Don t forget to follow these tips: Wash your hands before and after each visit and in between patients; we recommend sanitizing your hands again as you leave the facility, before you enter your car. Do not set any personal items down in the patient s area (bed, floor, bedside table) without a barrier. It s a good idea to only bring in a bag large enough to carry your phone and pen and hang it from the door handle or a chair. Follow any posted precautions such as using gowns, gloves, and/or face masks prior to entering the patient s room. While touch, with the patient s permission, is important, do not touch anything wet without a glove (saliva, mucus, blood, etc). Wear closed-toe shoes during patient visits. Do not volunteer if you are feeling ill; please notify the Volunteer Department so we can still meet the patient s needs. Obtain a flu vaccination each Fall; this not only protects you and your family, but our patients as well. We are aiming for 95% participation from all staff and volunteers. STAY HEALTHY!
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