Anyone who’s been to hospital knows that volunteers play an integral role in day-to-day operations, greeting and directing visitors, socializing with patients, and carrying out essential tasks.
Nancy Xiao, a class of 2019 pharmacy student, is one of these volunteers. She participates specifically in the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP), where she engages in one-on-one interactions with older patients in the form of playing board games, reading and solving mind puzzles. Nancy also runs range of motion exercises and assists with eating or meal set-up, if needed.
The aim of her interactions with patients is to decrease the potential negative effects of hospitals stays on the geriatric population. Through keeping patients mentally and physically engaged, Nancy helps them combat cognitive decline and muscle atrophy. She reflects that:
Attending to mental well-being is often the critical healthcare gap that I fill in my position.
Even if a patient is well-attended to in terms of their medical needs, busy hospital physicians and nurses aren’t always able to simply spend time with the patients: that’s where Nancy and the other HELP volunteers play an important role.
Many of the patients Nancy volunteers with are living with dementia, a condition that often comes with frustration or decreased confidence. By simply conversing with the patients, Nancy is able to help them re-build their self-esteem:
Giving words and time helps many patients get back a much needed sense of dignity. To know and see a patient’s faith in themselves slowly restored during a conversation is very rewarding.
Favourite Moments & Lessons Learned
My biggest take away as a future healthcare professional is to take my time with patients. Socialization and interaction with patients is medicine in and of itself.
Nancy meets patients with brief hospital stays. This system leads to a rather unique interaction between her and the patients she collaborates with.
I see patients at a vulnerable time in their life, hear intimate stories about their lives, and then never see them again. It makes for an open environment that I haven’t experienced in other volunteer positions.
“Time Travel without a Time Machine”
Working with an older population in particular, Nancy’s heard all sorts of stories from all kinds of people. The stories are what she appreciates the most when she volunteers.
The geriatric population has the best stories to tell. Patients tell stories about the countries they have lived in or traveled to, interesting occupations they had, and the wisdom they’ve gained. Not only are their stories a form of traveling without transportation, but they are also a form of time traveling without a time machine!
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with HELP or other volunteer programs at Grand River Hospital, please contact: Susan Entz at susan.entz@grhosp.on.ca or 519-749-4300 ext 6921.
You may also find information on the Grand River Website.
Explore other Waterloo Pharmacy volunteering experiences with the Community Service Stories series.