Volunteering, such as for hospice, a gift, at any time of year

With Hanukkah and Christmas highlighting next weekend, perhaps no price can be put on the gift of time people give to help others, especially at this time of year.

Volunteers are MVPs at many places with public outreach, providing help to veterans, homeless animals, rescue and relief agencies, schools, places of worship, and in health care settings. If time is handy to lend a helping hand, consider contacting a site to inquire about making such a difference.

With hospice among the array of services available through Caris Healthcare, 174 Waccamaw Medical Park Court, Conway, volunteers are sought to give companionship to hospice patients or help with administrative office duties in that function. Amy Flora, the volunteer coordinator, said anyone with time and care to share is welcome to apply. Call 843-349-4400, or email aflora@carishealthcare.com.

Question | How many volunteers make up the crew locally at Caris, and at what count would the roster be full, or fuller?

Answer | Right now, we have 24: five patient volunteers – and one in training – 12 administrative volunteers, and nine special projects volunteers – who make wonderful gifts such as prayer shawls and cards. ...

The more we could have, the merrier. ... I would love to double my program size by the end of 2017. ... It’s all based on volunteers’ time, and whatever their schedules permit. I might have one volunteer who can visit with a patient for 20 minutes one week and maybe two hours the next week.

Q. | For anyone who volunteers to spend time with a patient in hospice, just how quickly does camaraderie ensue between the two?

A. | It depends on the patient ... and the volunteer, and how involved they’re each willing to get. There is no set time limit, because it’s like meeting a new friend for the first time. Initially, I think volunteers might think, “Am I able to do this, and connect with the patient?” Some patients are at the end stage of life, and are no longer verbal. It takes a special person to be a patient volunteer in hospice. Some patients are very verbal. Some might have cardiac issues, but that doesn’t affect their communications skills.

Q. | What are some commonplace activities and topics that flow so naturally in such pairings? Favorite games, musicians, sports teams? What’s the range you have seen, with every single person on Earth being so different?

A. | With a new patient starts our services – either through the patient him- or herself, or through family or primary care givers – we find out the three most important things, the “TMIT,” about that person, which gives out staff and our volunteers, as a team, a base line to go on and how we can make a connection with a patient.

It might be something as simple as talking about family ... or maybe the patient loves to hear particular music, such as the 1950s, big band, or Nat “King” Cole, or Christmas music. ... Music is a big category. ... Those TMITs are so valuable, because we need to establish a relationship with the patient and the family. ...

One patient loves sausage biscuits, so the volunteer got one from McDonald’s for her. Those are special memories for patients. A lot of times, patients might not have visitors or family members here. It’s just the little things at that point for patients, and however we can connect with them is very important.

Q. | What orientation takes place for newcomers to your crew, and how frequent are such visits for those so giving of their time?

A. | We have a background and driver’s license check, and once they’re cleared, they come into our office, or I can go meet with them. The initial orientation takes about an hour and a half, then we have continuing education modules that they can do at home at their leisure. Once all that is completed, I will meet with them and help them ease into the process.

Q. | For a volunteer who has made a new friend, when the patient leaves this world. might the memories of times shared with smiles be just as – if not more – cherished for the former than the latter?

A. | I think it is. ... That’s what we’re supposed to do: share our gifts and talents with others. In almost every scenario, the volunteers end up getting more in return than what they’re giving. ... A lot of our volunteers feel that way; they feel like they have been called to help others.

Q. | What made this profession attractive to you, and what has kept that bond intact?

A. | I am not at all clinical, so being able to see our nurses, nurse aides, and social worker and chaplain help our patients, ... it warms my heart. I worked for a very large church in downtown Myrtle Beach for nearly a decade, and when this volunteer coordinator position presented itself, I felt like I was being called into another ministry, if you will. When recruiting volunteers, I do my best to find the right fit for our particular patients and their families, ... to make that whole journey a little easier for them.

This story was originally published December 18, 2016 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Volunteering, such as for hospice, a gift, at any time of year."