Finding Ways to Help

Volunteer brightens patients' stays

One of our hospital volunteers, Kathy Ryan, was rounding on patients as part of the falls prevention program she is part of.  She checks with patients in the hospital to make sure they have anti-slip socks on, that their alarms are set so they don’t try to get up without assistance and that proper identification is in place to alert staff.  The last question she asks before leaving the patient’s room is, “Is there anything else I can do for you?”

On one particular day, an elderly gentleman was watching his ill wife sleep in the hospital bed.  When he heard this question and felt the genuine concern to help, he began to weep.  “I wasn’t sure what was wrong,” Kathy explained.  He went on to say how much it meant to him and his wife that she cared enough to ask to help – they were lonely and struggling.  “We chatted for a bit longer and he seemed to perk up a bit but I just wished there was more I could do,” said Kathy.  With the next patient she went to visit, she asked that same question and the response was that the patient really just wanted a good stick of deodorant.  “She’d been admitted to the hospital straight from the doctor’s office and had no time to pack her toiletries.”

Kathy’s next stop was to The Foundation of CVPH to see how she might be able to brighten their stays.  With assistance from The Rabin Fund which is meant to provide patients with an incidental item that they wouldn’t be able to get themselves, Kathy delivered flowers to the elderly couple and deodorant to the female patient.  “It felt so good to be able to brighten their stays,” said Kathy.  “I’m so thankful the resources are there to provide these niceties.”  …and we’re so glad that we have thoughtful volunteers and special donors who make it all happen.