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Growing up to volunteer

“We have a saying in our family, ‘we don’t all grow up really fast, but we keep after it.’ It takes a lifetime,” says Jim Ernst.

Jim has not stopped asking himself, “What do you want to do when you grow up?” He’s had a fulfilling career as a teacher, then a principal. After 30 years in the teaching profession, he went back to school. Jim studied and received his master’s degree in psychology and became a therapist.

He started his life as the son of a Minister which may have something to do with his career choices. They’ve all been about caring for others. He’s retired now, but that hasn’t changed the fact that Jim’s still evolving and choosing to care for others – this time by volunteering for Yolo Hospice.

Volunteering is done for myriad reasons including charity, as a hobby, community service or vocation, or to gain experience. Some people go so far as to dedicate much of their lives to voluntary service. The people doing it are as varied as their reasons. For Jim, it is about helping others and making contact with them in a meaningful way.

At Yolo Hospice, Patient Care Volunteers play a vital role as members of the hospice team which is made up of nurses, social workers, home health aides, spiritual counselors and bereavement counselors. Volunteers work directly with the patient and their families. They build a relationship, give support, and provide respite care and companionship to patients and their families. Because of their intimate and vital role, we ask a little more of them. Yolo Hospice Patient Care Volunteers go through a 24-hour training course and background check before they can ever help with a patient. They are asked to be available an average of 2-4 hours per week.

Jim has been a Patient Care Volunteer for a year. He currently has three patients he sees. Their needs vary as does his relationship with them.

“Many people hear hospice and hear the word dying, but volunteering with Yolo Hospice is about connecting with others,” said Jim. “One patient I just visit with. He loves having company. Another I did some respite care for the caregiver. It feels good to be able to truly help during that stressful time.”

Patient care is not the only volunteer option available. Friends of Yolo Hospice is a volunteer group focusing on special events, fundraising activities, community awareness and other fund raising tasks. Options for involvement include working on special events, educating the public about hospice, office work and representing YH at community events.
Working on special events can provide a flexible time commitment while providing volunteers with a fun and rewarding way to contribute significantly to this not-for-profit and the community.
We try to instill good values in our young, but we shouldn’t stop growing because we are no longer young. Growing up is about getting better, expanding our minds and our hearts. Nothing does that better than volunteering. So don’t stop growing up; keep after it like Jim Ernst -- volunteer.

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