Many of us imagine spending our golden years resting, relaxing and doing all of the things we always wanted to do. Whether that vision includes travel, golf or some other form of recreation, most of us envision never having to work again.
In any case, this is not the reality of many Baptist seniors. With church duties, social activity, club memberships and frequent meetings, their time is stretched thin and schedules are filled to capacity, according to Shea Aldrich, director of volunteers at Baptist Medical Center Montclair and Baptist Medical Center Princeton in Birmingham.
In spite of their vast to-do lists, many of them still find time to volunteer at local hospitals.
“I retired early and I knew I would try to volunteer somewhere, possibly a hospital,” said Jack Warnock, Baptist Princeton volunteer for more than 20 years and deacon at Fairfield Highlands Baptist Church, Midfield. “It makes you feel good when you do something life that.”
Making a difference
“I get more benefit out of volunteering than the hospital really gets out of me, because it makes a difference in my life,” he said.
Hospital volunteers meet new people and help others while learning more about the medical field. Because not everyone is suited for every position, the Baptist medical centers offer an assortment of service areas including assistance in admitting, intensive care, emergency, gift shop, greeting, patient information and pastoral care library.
“I work in the surgery waiting room,” said Judy Long, Baptist Montclair volunteer since 1990 and member of McElwain Baptist Church, Birmingham. “My primary responsibility is to work with the families of patients who are about to have surgery. I have the opportunity to talk with them and hopefully to be of some comfort to them. Every week it’s a little different,” she said.
“I was a high school guidance counselor for 20 years,” Long noted. “I felt I could be of service, and I thought that would be something I would enjoy. I would still be dealing with people as I had done in my job.”
Volunteering also offers a great opportunity to witness to others who need Jesus Christ. “I have a little cross that says ‘Paid in full,’” said Warnock. “I wear it on my lapel and that is a good conversation piece to witness to people in the hospital.”
In addition to helping the needy and witnessing to others, volunteering allows seniors to be grateful for the blessings they have. “I think of my own case,” said Warnock. “You get your mind off yourself. You find out that there are some people out there who have some awful problems and you’ve got it good. That was, I think, the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Currently, Baptist Montclair has approximately 100 active volunteers and Baptist Princeton has about 80. However, both hospitals would like to increase their volunteer staff substantially.
“Even though our volunteers at Montclair and Princeton contributed more than 40,500 hours last year, I could easily place another 20 volunteers in each hospital right now,” said Aldrich.
“Our recruitment has changed and we are trying new and different ways to get new and different types of volunteers in the hospital. But we are always looking,” she said. “We’re always open. Whatever someone wants to try, we’re anxious to get them in here.”
Even though most Baptist volunteers are in their 70s, many of them are much older. “We have quite a few who are in their late 80s,” said Aldrich.
“I have volunteers at both hospitals that have been active for over 30 years,” Aldrich added. “They are amazing people. The funny part is I would hate to have to keep up with some of them.”
In exchange for their diligent service, Baptist provides its volunteers with free cafeteria meals, gift shop discounts, free parking, free annual TB tests, free flu shots and participation in hospital programs and events.
“Along with the jobs, we have the opportunity to be a part of the Montclair Auxiliary,” said Long. “In that capacity, we, through different means, make a pretty good bit of money that we turn over to the hospital to be used where it’s needed most.
“That’s rewarding too,” she said. “I’ve just always enjoyed helping, and this gives me the opportunity to do that.”
Some examples of their gifts include items for the waiting room and furnishing the chapel.
Dedicated volunteers
“They are more than dedicated,” said Aldrich. “They are very dependable. The vast majority, you can set your clock by them. They are a remarkable group of people, and they love to help people and give their time to their hospital.”
To become a Baptist Medical Center adult volunteer, interested persons must fill out an application, undergo a personal interview and complete an orientation and training program that provides information on infection control, safety, security, hospital policies and the assigned position. Then they are placed and trained in different service areas based on the hospitals’ needs.
For more information on the Baptist Medical Center volunteer program, visit the resources section of www.thealabamabaptist.org.
For seniors interested in volunteering outside of a hospital, the American Red Cross, Senior Corps, schools and various senior citizen organizations offer other volunteer programs.
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