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Dave's Test of the Spirit:
I would like to share with my fellow students of Modern Warrior, my experience as a volunteer at the Long Island State Veterans Home. As part of my “test of the spirit,” I committed to 100 hours of volunteer service during a four-week period. At first, I found the task a bit daunting, and I will admit to a little nervousness as the time was approaching to begin my hours. I wasn’t quite sure how I would contribute, and how I would relate to the residents and staff of the home. Any fear dissipated soon after I started my hours. An experience that I thought of as a test of mental endurance, turned into a lesson in human interaction.
The staff at the veterans home is comprised of some of the most dedicated professionals I have ever encountered. They are purposeful and focused in their actions, but tolerant and caring in their demeanor. I have never seen any of them lose their temper, even under very stressful circumstances. The recreational therapy staff is amazing. They manage to accomplish a great deal in a short period of time and make it fun. They also provide such an atmosphere of warmth, and compassion, it could only come from a genuine love of their jobs and the residents.
My greatest interactions have been with the residents themselves. I primarily help in two areas, the aforementioned recreational therapy and the “friendly visit” program. In recreational therapy, I assist in transporting residents (most are in wheelchairs) to and from different activities including musical performances, recreational exercise, arts and crafts, and bingo. During the programs, I help any resident who needs it. That help is sometimes minimal, such as providing an extra set of eyes in bingo, or more involved, such as helping a resident through an arts and crafts project. These activities may sound mundane and boring to most people, but to someone who is mostly incapacitated, the completion of even the smallest task brings a great sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. To be part of some of those accomplishments is truly rewarding for me, and the residents are so appreciative of the volunteers that I genuinely feel I am making a positive contribution to their lives.
Probably, for me, the experiences that have “humanized” my time there the most are the “friendly visits.” Ironically, they were also the parts of the test I most feared. The “friendly visit” program was designed to offer companionship to residents who otherwise wouldn’t have much. I was assigned to visit four residents and while I didn’t manage to establish a connection with all of them, I established a very strong connection with two of them. One of the two is a man who doesn’t have much awareness of what’s going on around him. He has no sense of time, and only a fleeting ability to relate to people in an interactive manner. It would be easy to dismiss him and ignore him as he generally keeps to himself. I got to know him. It took a while, but I learned that he is very lonely, and looks forward to my visits. He doesn’t seem to remember any details about me, but he knows my face and knows he likes my company. He is disappointed when I leave, and always asks me to return as soon as possible. I am, perhaps, the only meaningful human contact he has.
The other person I have connected with is a woman who recently lost her husband. She does have family who visit her on weekends, but she also enjoys my company. She likes to reminisce, and I try to be a good listener. I have been able to persuade her (in a friendly way) to go to more activities. She felt awkward about going because she is a woman in a place that is inhabited mostly by men. After going to a few events with her, she has begun to realize that she is welcome and even expected at these events by the other residents. She has opened herself up to new social opportunities. The most touching moment of my entire experience at the home was when she told me that she regards me as family. I don’t think she made that comment lightly. Her family is the most important thing to her, and it feels very good knowing I made that deep a connection with a person I just recently met. The “friendly visit” program has shown my on a very real level, just how important social interaction is for human beings.
You may have noticed that I have referred to many of my interactions with the residents in present tense. That is because I am continuing to volunteer there, even though my test requirements have been met. Not only do I want to continue with the relationships I have developed in my time there, but I also want to contribute to what I consider a very worthwhile cause. At this point, I feel like I am just visiting friends. I always leave with a great sense of real accomplishment and fulfillment, as well as some happy memories. Many other people volunteer for similar reasons. A couple of people I met volunteer because relatives of theirs spent their last days, months, or years at the home, and they are so appreciative of the quality of care they received, that they have decided to help others receive that same level of care. That help is desperately needed. The home could not function without the volunteers. Along with the recreational activities, and friendly visits, volunteers help organize medical records and do other office work, escort residents on different trips, entertain or function as guest speakers, help with shopping for residents, assist during pastoral services, teach computer skills to residents, work in the gift shop or library, and assist in the different therapy programs. Some people even create their own jobs; perhaps to cater to a need they feel isn’t being met.
I urge anyone with a little time (even two hours a week can make a huge difference) to volunteer at the Long Island State Veterans Home. The rewards are immediate and substantial. You can truly make a positive difference in people’s lives. Anyone who is interested can contact Susan K. Helmus, the Director of Volunteer Services, at (631) 444-8590. You will be required to fill out an application with basic information about yourself, have a doctor fill out a medical screening including a TB test, and attend a brief orientation and volunteer training session. The little bit of effort is more than worthwhile. If you are approved (hey, they took me!) you will be playing a vital role in the lives of often forgotten members of our society.