Discover the Benefits of Volunteering

DERBY - The Community Health Resource Center at Griffin Hospital, 130 Division St., Derby, will host a free presentation about how volunteering can help individuals get or stay healthy on Thurs., Nov. 9 from 1:30-3 p.m.

 

Laura Murphy, Planetree Services Supervisor, will host “Realizing the Health Benefits of Volunteering,” a free presentation on how and why helping others can have a direct effect on a person’s physical, emotional and social being.

 

There will also be information about the many volunteer opportunities at Griffin Hospital.

 

This program is part of a series of free, educational forums hosted by the Community Health Resource Center to help improve the health of the community.

 

To register or for more information, call Kerry or Deborah at 203-732-7399.

 

The Community Health Resource Center at Griffin Hospital is a traditional library that provides an array of medical and health information, including a large collection of easy to read health and lifestyle related materials. The Center is open to the public to educate themselves on ways to enhance their well-being, prevent illness and play an active role in decisions about their health.

 

(This is a press release from Griffin Hospital)

Griffin Hospital in Derby offers volunteer opportunities

Ansonia High School Senior Sanjida Shamim is one of many student volunteers gaining work experience and skills at Griffin Hospital. She is photographed in the Center for Cancer Care. / Contributed photo

DERBY - Summer is here and for many high school students, the time off from school offers opportunities to build their college application credentials and gain valuable work experience.

Griffin Hospital offers students a variety of volunteer service experiences in a dynamic healthcare environment.

“Volunteering is a great way to help the community and an opportunity to learn about working in a professional environment,” said Martha Denstedt, Director of Planetree Program Services at Griffin Hospital.
“Students do not need to be looking into a medical career to volunteer at Griffin. We offer experiences that can be applied to many different types of career fields. This is a great place for students to fulfill their community service hours as well as gain experience.”

For Ansonia High School senior Sanjida Shamim, volunteering has provided more than just work experience, it has helped her develop as a person. “Volunteering at Griffin has taught me patience and communication skills,” Shamim said.
 “I learned that people do things at different speeds and through different processes. I also learned to communicate my ideas in order to improve efficiency in my work area. I've definitely found a voice through volunteering.”

Shamim has volunteered at Griffin since 2013 and her duties have included baking muffins for the patients and visitors at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital along with being a candy striper.
She said she encourages fellow students to volunteer and experience the simple, yet profound satisfaction she gets from helping someone and putting a smile on their face.

“I literally love that smile," Shamim said. "When you know you are helping a person - even something simple like keeping a patient company – you realize volunteering is worth it. I started because I wanted to know I was making a change, even small,” she said.

Griffin Hospital student volunteers can also serve as hospitality greeters/receptionists, arts and crafts helpers (sewing, knitting, crocheting), room service providers, clerical support, and providers of soft touch massage, Reiki or Therapeutic Touch. Students are able to work in a variety of areas of the hospital including, Distribution, Dining Services, Medical Records, and the Community Health Education Resource Center.

Every student is trained to their particular service role so that they are comfortable and familiar with their work. Students must complete a comprehensive application as well as a health assessment form. All students are required to attend an orientation session prior to beginning their volunteer service where they learn about Griffin, the hospital mission as well as safety and volunteer protocols.

As an added incentive, the hospital offers scholarships to qualified student volunteers. For more than 40 years, Griffin Hospital has awarded more than 200 scholarships to students from the community in recognition of their outstanding service and contributions.

Applicants must be seniors in high school, completed a minimum of 100 hours of hospital service and be accepted into an accredited college/university in order to qualify for any of the scholarships.

“We love to see new faces walking in the door that have the drive to help out the community and their work is always appreciated,” Denstedt said.

For more information about volunteer opportunities call Tricia Brister, 203-732-7555.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Griffin Hospital in Derby seeks volunteers

Volunteer John Pitts of Ansonia

DERBY - As many make plans to improve their health and well-being in 2014, Griffin Hospital reminds everyone volunteering is a great way to help the community and can be a way to improve one’s own health.

According to the Corporation for National & Community Service, recent research shows that individuals who volunteer in their community experience physical and mental health benefits through receiving a greater sense of purpose and accomplishment.

Ansonia resident John Pitts understands the joys of volunteering.

For the past eight years, Pitts has baked fresh muffins in the morning for patients and their caregivers. He never envisioned himself as a baker, but Pitts said he loves the role.

“This is great job. I get to put a smile on people’s faces,” Pitts said. “I’m a bit of an underdog when I go in to see the patients because no one really wants to be in the hospital, but having that aroma of fresh baked muffins and giving something warm to eat makes people feel comfortable and you get a great feeling when you see smiles come across their faces.”

As a hospital committed to the Planetree patient-centered model of care, Griffin Hospital offers a wide variety of volunteer opportunities that allow individuals to use their skills in providing a more comfortable and therefore better healing environment for its patients.

Planetree is an innovative model of healthcare that puts patients’ needs first. Planetree designated hospitals shape every aspect of their care by the Planetree principles, including welcoming and comfortable interiors and service, and an emphasis on patient and family involvement.

Volunteers play a critical role in providing this exceptional care at Griffin Hospital.
Starting with a patient’s first step in the door at the hospital, Volunteer Ambassadors escort the patient to his or her appointment. These ambassadors also assist visitors and caregivers find their loved one’s location in the hospital.

Room Service Volunteers visit patients to tell them about all the Planetree amenities, including complementary soft touch massage, therapeutic touch or Reiki treatments, therapy dog visits, guided imagery meditation, aroma therapy, portable DVD players or a fresh-baked cookie or muffin. In addition, to being the messengers about these services, Griffin Hospital offers opportunities to become the volunteer provider of these services, providing training in each of the therapies and baking.

Volunteer therapy dogs and their owners are also needed. People and Animals Working in Spirit (P.A.W.S.) bring smiles to the faces of patients as only the human-canine connection can.
Each dog must pass a rigorous behavior and medical screening prior to entry to the program. All breeds of dogs who qualify for testing for therapy dog work are welcome.

Every Griffin Hospital volunteer is required to attend a three-hour orientation, followed by a training session for their particular assignment. After four hours of service, volunteers are entitled to a free meal ticket at the hospital’s Dining Room.

For more information about these and other volunteer opportunities, call 203-732-7555 or visit griffinhealth.org.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Facility in Shelton seeks volunteers

SHELTON - Wesley Village is looking for adults interested in volunteering in its Hands of Comfort Program.

Volunteers will receive training in giving gentle hand rubs to residents.
Training will be held at 10 a.m. March 13 at Crosby Commons Assisted Living on the Wesley Village campus, 580 Long Hill Ave. Snow date is March 20.

For information contact Barbara Quinn, 203-944-8292 to schedule an interview before the training session.


This is a press release from United Methodist Homes.