Occupation: Volunteer, Brightshores
Hobbies/Interests: Reading, Bowling, Exercise
Volunteer Benefits from Giving Back
Lunch time at the hospital is the busiest part of Madilynn Wade’s volunteer day.
When Madilynn retired as a PSW six years ago, she didn’t want to be “sitting around the house,” so she began volunteering on the medical floor at the Owen Sound Hospital. She feeds patients who can’t feed themselves. Simple things like opening a juice or yogurt container can be challenging for the sickest patients, and having a volunteer to lend a hand when needed is key to healing, and reduces the risk of malnutrition.
“They’re always so thankful,” she says of the patients. “Sometimes when you’re talking to the patients, you can just tell they need someone to talk to.”
Called the “lifeblood” of the volunteer mealtime assistance program, Madilynn’s work saves nurses time and is a much needed service that could always use more volunteers. “I think the nurses appreciate me being there. They’re not afraid to ask me to help out, and it’s great to be able to support them.”
Madilynn has a few other volunteer duties too. She takes a book trolley around to patients, is re-organizing the storage area in one of the outpatient units, and has participated as a patient advisor for the oncology department when needed. Her advice to anyone looking to volunteer at the hospital is to figure out what you’re comfortable doing. And if you try something and it doesn’t feel right, there are plenty of other “jobs” that need doing. “You don’t always know until you try it out.”
To follow in Madilynn’s footsteps, contact Brightshores Volunteer Services.