Taken from an article written by L. Rush, a feature writer for The Southern Illinoisan ©, June 25, 2000.

From cuddling or rocking newborn babies to delivering hot meals to shut-ins, volunteers improve the quality of life for most of us. Senior citizens are among the best volunteers around, sharing their talents with hospitals, schools, libraries, nursing homes, senior centers and other agencies.

Some help the elderly pay bills, do income tax returns or decipher medical insurance forms. Others run food banks. Some help children with class work. Walking dogs or cuddling kittens at humane shelters, helping at thrift shops, playing cards with hospitalized veterans or hugging triumphant winners at Special Olympics – you'll find them there.

Older volunteers have the time and the talents, say officials of the agencies who welcome the help. Above all, they have the energy. “I'm absolutely thrilled to have them,” said Kathy Surprenant, director of volunteers at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale. “They're generally reliable, available and have no issues with following rules.”

Volunteers “don't need to be physically able to push a wheelchair” to be useful, Surprenant added. “We have some volunteers who use walkers, wheelchairs, even those motorized Rascals. We can find a place for them.”

She tries “to match jobs with their interests and the time that they're available to work, to make sure it's a good fit,” she continued. They serve as receptionists, escort patients around the hospital for lab tests, stuff envelopes, deliver flowers to rooms, escort newborns and mothers out the door as they head home and cuddle and rock newborns.

Some volunteers work in the Pink Geranium gift shop run by the hospital auxiliary. For that, no retailing skill is needed, Surprenant said. “We have a new cash register that does everything. All they have to do is use the scanner.” Volunteers also are taught to use computers for some jobs, she said. “If you can heat something in the microwave,” she said, you can learn to use the computer.

The hospital always needs folks to deliver late meal trays for patients who miss mealtime because of tests or other reasons. “It takes less than an hour,” Surprenant said. At present about 100 volunteers serve the hospital.

“We can always use more,” she added. Aileen Motsinger of the gift shop at Marion Memorial Hospital, will be 79 this fall, and has volunteered at the hospital for 29 years – ever since retiring from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“I enjoy people,” she said, claiming she'd rust if she just sat around the house. Not only does she get out of the house, she also does all the buying for the shop and travels to the big gift markets.

The Marion hospital auxiliary also runs a thrift shop, which uses volunteers. Volunteers there also serve as patient escorts, assemble information packets for patients, staff the lobby desk and cuddle babies, among other duties. “They usually work three-hour shifts,” Motsinger said.

Though they're not paid, she added, the hospital gives volunteers free flu shots, recognizes them at a dinner and holds an annual volunteer picnic.

John Smith, executive director of the Egyptian Area Agency on Aging, said volunteers are used in a variety of programs, many coordinated through local senior citizen centers and other aging programs. Services range from nursing home visitors to volunteer money managers.

“Volunteers always are needed to work at seniors' meal sites and to deliver Meals on Wheels to the elderly. Adult day service centers also need help,” he said. “And the Alzheimer's Association always needs volunteers.”

An Illinois Department of Aging program called READ places volunteers in schools to help kids with reading and other skills.

The American Association of Retired Persons trains volunteer instructors for its “55 Alive” driving classes for older persons. Those who complete the class are eligible for auto insurance discounts. Senior citizen centers usually have information on the program.

Retired nurses are always in demand. They may serve to do blood pressure screenings at senior centers, or to serve at Red Cross blood drives. United Way and other charitable agencies throughout the region always welcome volunteers to help with campaigns.

Retired Senior Volunteer Programs (RSVP) are offered by the Western Egyptian Economic Opportunity Council and Shawnee Development Council.

Though they don't get a paycheck, most volunteers say they nonetheless get rewards, from simply getting out of the house or using special skills, to observing that “aha!” moment, like when a child they're tutoring learns how to recognize a new word.

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