How we are living our lives today is different than what we are used to. Kids are being home schooled, people are working from home, families are spending all of their
time together. We are only going out to get food, go to the doctors, or to get some exercise. We are social distancing, we are communicating through Zoom or Facetime.

Life as we know it is different for now. We are working together as a community to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. By practicing social distancing, the hospitals are given the chance to effectively treat patients. Also, businesses have also been classified as essential and nonessential during the health crisis. Hospice is essential, but during this time volunteering visits have been stopped. This “new normal” may change the way we volunteer in hospice. Because we are slowing the spread of COVID-19 by social distancing, volunteers are not allowed in the nursing homes to visit the patients. During this time we had to stop all volunteer visits and many staff visits. Nursing home residents are understandably at higher risk for being susceptible to COVID-19 symptoms, so their chance of recovery is less likely than the younger population. Because of this reason, nursing homes are taking proper precautions.

Even though we have social distancing order in place, volunteers are needed now more than ever. You can make cards for our patients, write them letters to let them know you are thinking about them, color them a picture for their room. Remember, their social isolation is more restrictive than yours and these changes could make their day-to-day pretty lonely. Our nursing home patients are not able to see their families, are seeing our staff less, are having less interaction in the nursing home with others. This time has completely changed their world. If you enjoy being creative, please help create masks for our staff, or items to help patients remain comfortable such as blankets, bibs, or neck pillows.

Once we are able to return to our new normal, I look forward to seeing your smiling faces in the nursing homes visiting patients, in the office helping out with the various projects and making memory bears as usual.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. If you have an ideas that you think the patients, families or our organization can use during this time, please reach out to your volunteer coordinator. We love new ideas and are here for you too! 

While you are social distancing, please recharge your battery and take time to smell the roses, while staying safe.