“I did,” Murray said, “and I went to the orientation. It was meant to be and everything came together for me. I enjoy volunteering at the agency as I feel I am an essential part of the team of caregivers.” Over the past year, she has helped State of the Heart by recording “life reviews” for patients and families and visiting with patients while caregivers take a break.
State of the Heart has scheduled a volunteer orientation Tuesday, October 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the agency’s office in Greenville, 1350 N. Broadway. For anyone who would like to know more about volunteering and signing up for the orientation, an “information session” will be held Tuesday, October 15 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Greenville office, according to Pauline Faller, Volunteer Manager.
“I would urge anyone who is interested and wants to find out if volunteering for State of the Heart is for them, to check it out,” Murray said. “That is what I did.”
Faller will be available for the information session to answer any questions about the volunteer opportunities. Assisted by hospice staff, she will also conduct the orientation on October 22.
“There may be prospective volunteers who are wondering how much time they must commit, or what assignments they might be given,” Faller said. They can get these questions and other similar ones answered at the information day.
“I don’t feel that what I do for State of the Heart is any kind of a burden,” stated Murray. She enjoys sitting with patients while their caregivers leave the house to run errands. “I listen to the patients who like to talk about their lives, and often I will visit with the family member when they return. I feel that I am not just there for the patient; I am there for the family as well.”
Faller explained that volunteers help the hospice team in many ways. “Our focus in hospice care is to provide support for the patient and the family. That is why Kim’s volunteering is helpful as she spends time with our patients. Volunteers also help patients and families by picking up and delivering medical supplies. The nice thing about volunteering for State of the Heart is that you can choose how much time you want to volunteer and choose what you want to do.”
Murray said there is no pressure or feeling of obligation with her volunteering. “When I am asked to do something and can’t because of other obligations, I tell Pauline and she finds someone else. She knows my availability and when I likely can help out. I am willing to do anything that the agency asks me to do. I enjoy being busy,” she said.
Her commitment to State of the Heart Hospice stems from a personal experience with hospice services. Her mother was cared for six years ago by a hospice program in Cincinnati, and a good friend passed away under hospice care.
“Although my mother was under hospice care for only 24 hours, it made a tremendous difference for her and my family,” she said. “She was in a homelike environment at the care center with no noisy medical equipment in the room. There were no restrictions on visiting hours and there was a chapel nearby.” She added that another important value of hospice care she observed was the “pain control for my mother and the respect she was given.”
State of the Heart Hospice, with offices in Greenville, Coldwater and Portland, cares for patients and families in eastern Indiana and western Ohio who are confronting a life limiting illness.
“I hope that others like Kim will see the information about becoming a volunteer and do just as she did,” Faller said, “and check it out at the information session October 15.” For more information on volunteering, call Faller at 548-2999. Visit the agency web site at www.stateoftheheartcare.org.