Volunteering Reaps Great Benefits
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2006-12-22 13:53:00-05:00
"People need help," says Faye Timms. "Even if it's just to talk with someone."
Timms, an AARP member who is a Faith in Action Medina County Caregiver volunteer, knows first hand what it is like to care for an aging loved one.
"My mom was ill, and I had to do a lot for her," said Timms. "I saw how much time it took and what it would have meant if I wasn't there. So I want to help others to make sure they have someone to talk to, get their medical needs met, and not be lonely."
Timms cared for her mom for four years before she was bedridden and had to go into a nursing home.
Timms has enjoyed serving Faith in Action in a variety of ways. She drives people to medical appointments, serves on the Fund Development Committee and is an office volunteer where her organizational skills have been a great benefit.
"This gives me all kinds of benefits," said Timms. "One is self-satisfaction. It makes me feel good to help someone out. And two, in addition to taking someone to a medical appointment and visiting, I enjoy learning all the ins and outs of the program by seeing how much work goes into making arrangements for all of these services to be done."
Through her office work, Faye can testify to the help needed by Medina County's elderly.
It's the reason county social workers, who were concerned about the gap in services to the elderly, decided to form a local Faith in Action program.
"Frail, isolated or health-impaired elderly adults in our area cannot manage routine activities that many of us take for granted," said Bernice Goertzen, president of Faith in Action and one of the local founders. "For example 20% of Medina County's elderly don't drive. In a rural and suburban county, that is a major hardship."
"Like Faye Timms, nearly every volunteer feels they are receiving so much more from the volunteer experience than they are giving," adds Kilbane. "Yet their care receivers are so very, very grateful for their help."
If you would like to help in your community by volunteering with Faith in Action Medina County Caregivers, simply complete this online form and be sure to check the "Independent Living one-to-one service" box underneath the "Community Service" heading.
preview