Opotiki could use more Hospice volunteers according to long-time member Nora Parkinson.
For the last fifteen years, Nora has been a Hospice volunteer visiting the terminally ill in the Opotiki area. Some might think it’s a depressing time to be involved with people but that’s absolutely not true. “Many of my patients have given me such joy because they’ve been such wonderful people”. “In fact they’ve made me feel very humble because they’ve never complained and they and their families have always been so grateful for the help they get.”
Nora says she first became involved with Hospice after her husband, Ray, died. “The idea of being a Hospice volunteer appealed to me because it involved going into people’s homes and helping them” Nora says the needs of patients are varied “Many people have wonderful family support so we often provide time out for the carers, or someone they can talk to.
Although volunteers are advised not to get too involved with their patients’ lives, Nora says you often can’t help but become quite close .
Nora says she also used to go over to Whakatane twice a month to help with the Day Stay patients on a Thursday. “People love going to those Thursday sessions and they all become great friends. “I really enjoyed them too”
Asked what the most important attribute a volunteer needs, Nora says “commitment.”
Unfortunately, Nora has had to put aside her Hospice duties due to recent surgery, but she’s hoping to be back on board in the near future.