Volunteer

Comforting Through Touch

Louisville native Joe Roehrig began his career as a mechanical engineer, first serving three years in the U.S. Air Force then 20 years as an engineer. The St. Xavier High School and University of Notre Dame graduate decided to change gears and went back to school earning a master’s in community development from the University of Louisville in 1982. He entered the nonprofit field eventually retiring from his position as executive director of The Family Place: A Child Abuse Treatment Agency in 2001 (now called Family & Children’s Place).

The 83-year-old worked part time as a consultant before fully retiring in 2007. Joe says retirement for him was never about sitting in a rocking chair on the porch or watching TV all day. He said he’s not comfortable unless he’s active. Volunteering with Norton Hospital in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) has provided him with a purpose and sense of worth. He says it’s made his life more interesting and rewarding.

WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THIS VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY?

My last full-time position was director of an agency that helped abused children, but in my position in administration, I didn’t work directly with the children. I feel I missed something by not doing direct service. This volunteer position allows me to work with the children and be more hands on.

WHAT DO YOU DO AS A NICU VOLUNTEER?

Mostly we support the NICU nurses and therapists in what they’re doing to care for the children. Many of the babies in the unit are born to drug-addicted mothers who pass that addiction on to their children.

It takes them a while to get the drugs out of their system and during that time they’re in a lot of pain. They act out with lots of crying. It’s very hard to comfort them. They need to be held and comforted as much as possible. Volunteers hold them and try to get them to calm down and relax.

I remember one baby boy I worked with. He was about five months old. I held him and entertained him for six weeks. He had almost no expression the whole time and then one day he smiled at me. He just started smiling, and you could see he was finally coming around. It was really rewarding to see my efforts paying off.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE OTHER SENIORS INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING?

There are a lot of organizations crying for volunteers. Find what you think you want to do and where you might fit in, then give it a try. If you don’t like it, you can always try something else. Volunteering is so rewarding and worth trying.

By Kym Voorhees Raque | Photo by Patti Hartog

Summer 2023 / Today's Transitons