Vol. 10, No. 1 - 2016
It’s Your Life Live It Well
INSIDE: Forest Bathing: Soaking in Benefits of the Outdoors Integrative Medicine: Working Together for Greater Good Soulful Movement: Accessing Deeper Part of Ourselves What is Technology Doing to Us? The Stats are Scary Kerry-Ann Weaver, left, and her mother, Ann Kelly, say their volunteer work with VON has greatly enriched their lives.
Volunteering a ‘beautiful’ opportunity Mother-daughter team considers it an hounour to volunteer for VON program
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He is the opportunity of a lifetime,” says Ann Kelly, a VON Supportive Care Program volunteer, of Jim.* Jim is one of the ‘special friends’ she and her daughter have been together with for almost two years through this program that supports individuals and families dealing with a life-altering/life-limiting illness. “You know that old adage, about who actually gets more out of this relationship, the volunteer or the client? We would both have to say we do, without a doubt. What’s in it is some of the most beautiful opportunities that you will ever have,” said Ann. The “we” she refers to is herself and her daughter Kerry-Ann Weaver. While VON has a number of couples who volunteer together, this mother-daughter team is unique in many ways. One of the first things you learn about Kerry-Ann is her love for seniors and animals, a love that developed several years ago when she used to take Shadow, a St. John’s Ambulance Therapy Dog, to a local nursing home. In 2011, she was looking for something meaningful to get involved with, knowing her job in the corporate world was coming to an end. She saw a VON ad in the newspa-
per for Fundamentals of Hospice Palliative Care (now delivered through three in-class sessions over six weeks), which is a prerequisite for volunteering in the Supportive Care program. “I waited a long time to get a client,” said Kerry-Ann. “Then one day, I got home from work and saw an urgent email that there was a palliative client in hospital. I emailed back saying I can go right now. I shut off the oven but when I got there, the client had already died. Even though the client had children, no one was there and that really bothered me. I feel very strongly that no one should die alone.” There is no medical background needed and volunteers offer not only social and emotional support but simple comfort measures; friendship, sharing and listening; respite for caregivers and/or practical help. VON serves Grey and Bruce counties and there is no fee for services. “As a society, we often fear death more than we recognize the richness of life at the end-of-life,” said supportive care program coordinator Mary Winkler. Continued on Page 10.
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