Volunteers help patients on road to recovery
22-Dec-2010
A new volunteer programme is helping patients on the road to recovery in the Regional Rehabilitation Unit.
Volunteers are taking on a new role as weekend activity co-ordinators for the patients who have complex neurological disabilities. Volunteer co-ordinator Artis Richards says: “Many of these patients often have to spend months on the unit and activities are an important part of their recovery. Our volunteers are able to make the weekend more fun with a wide variety of activities.”
The volunteers help the patients enjoy their time with a wide range of activities ranging from board games, painting, music-making, reading, a visit to Costa Coffee and the Nintendo Wii.
Tharni Vasavan (pictured) is a volunteer on the unit and says: “It is great to meet the patients and inspiring as I see them recover and cope with their communications challenges.”
Driver volunteers are also needed to help patients travel to and from hospital appointments. Doug Parry has been a volunteer driver for over 14 years since his retirement. He says: “It makes you feel good helping patients who would have difficulty making the journey themselves. It is worthwhile and I enjoy making them smile and putting them at ease.”
If you would like to make your New Year’s resolution becoming a volunteer please contact Artis Richards (Volunteer Co-ordinator) on 2425 and if you want to help as a weekend activity co-ordinator contact Katrina Clarkson (Principal Speech and Language Therapist) on 2807.