Carers help lift spirits

By Bridget Cook
ABOUT 130 patients at Dandenong Hospital are visited each week by pastoral care volunteers, who offer both general and spiritual support.
The Pastoral care and chaplaincy department has 20 volunteers who give up their time about once a week to help patients who may be lonely, frail and sometimes fearful.
Program co-ordinator Libby Paterson said all of the volunteers have great dedication to what they do.
“They all have a commitment and desire to assist, listen and journey with their fellow human beings,” Ms Paterson said.
The program has now been running at Dandenong hospital for about nine years. Volunteers receive required training and are all authorised by their churches to offer spiritual support and Holy Communion.
Ms Paterson said the program is about the patients.
“The volunteers are there to offer general support, spiritual support, and companionship,” she said.
“It is all about respecting the patient’s rights, the support is offered to them graciously and respectably, and is their decision whether they use it.”
Ms Paterson said each of the volunteers is from the Greater Dandenong area.
“To volunteer people have to acquire either a commitment to the cause or to the region, and these volunteers have both.”
Volunteering gives people the chance to determine what their skills and interests are and use them in a helpful way, Ms Paterson said.
“Volunteering is an opportunity for people to give, and in that is an opening for self growth, self reflection and to be with others.”
For more information on how to get involved with pastoral care volunteering contact Libby Paterson on 9554 8330.