Back in March, as the COVID-19 pandemic brought about a number of policy changes, we temporarily suspended community volunteerism within Parkview facilities for the sake of everyone’s safety. It didn’t take long for team members to find a creative – social distance compliant – new opportunity for these individuals.
Together, Cassie Kurtz, supervisor, Volunteer Services, Parkview Regional Medical Center, and Maris Abel, seniors well-being coordinator, gained approval for a program in which Parkview volunteers would call seniors in the area known to be living alone. Some of the conversations went on for some time, and some were brief. In some cases, the calls became recurring chats. We reached out to both a Parkview volunteer and a senior club member to learn more about what this reassignment has meant to the parties on both ends of the line.
