(Editor's Note: This is the eighth in a series of stories written by the members of the Greater Derry Creative Women's Writers Group, shining a spotlight on some of the local heroes, both individuals and organizations, that make our communities better.)
It's just another day at Colonial Poplin and Poplin Way, a quaint 50-bed nursing home and 18-room assisted living facility located in Fremont. Russell and Karen Philbrick opened the facility in 1983, both are now deceased, it is now owned by their two surviving sons, Jeff and Justin Philbrick. The small, privately owned nursing home is known for cozy country décor and home like surroundings. When you enter the facility, you hear the chirping of birds and might see three well behaved dogs running about.¬
There are many nursing homes large and small¬ that have a thriving elderly population.¬ Much has changed for the better over the years.¬ There are strict guidelines and state laws protecting the rights of individuals for proper care.¬ These facilities provide activities with a future for a more cultural change geared to the individual's life style.¬ Leaving their home is a tough adjustment and when it's the time to have others care for you, many have to relocate near their families, leaving friends behind, others have no families.
The staff in these facilities are too busy to read a book or hold a hand, but I have seen many attempts.¬ I have worked at Poplin for four years in the rehab department.¬ This is where volunteers come to the rescue.¬ I was moving quickly down the hall¬ at Colonial Poplin on a busy Tuesday, rounding up my patients for the day when I witnessed Sandy Hetnar, a volunteer who comes in every Tuesday.
She was holding the hand of a dying resident.
The resident held a tight grip on her hand until family arrived.¬ The simple act of holding a hand and the giving of one self to another, by definition is a "hero." The dictionary defines a hero as a person honored for outstanding deeds, high qualities and bravery.
Sandy Hetnar spoke with me about how special and important it was to have the privilege to take care of her grandmother before she went to the nursing home.
"I feel blessed and would like to give back," Hetnar said.
"I now have 20 grandparents," she added with a smile.
Hetnar and her husband sold their business, which enabled her to have the time to volunteer. " I help with coffee hour, room visits, and pushing wheelchairs to activities," she said. I asked her what did she think was the most important part of volunteering? She simply stated, "human touch."
"It's rewarding work."
Michelle Hughes arrives after working in the school for special education on Friday evenings to call bingo, along with her other duties.
" I'm so tired when walking into Colonial, but when I see their faces I forget everything else." Hughes said.
"It's sad when someone passes away, you get so attached.¬ Some of these people have little or no company. Giving a hour or two put's a smile on a face, and some of the younger short term rehab patients need someone to talk to, they seem to appreciate it. Volunteering is priceless."¬
I asked the two women if they thought it was depressing to volunteer in the nursing home.¬ They both had the same response —¬ " Absolutely not."¬ They both felt it rewarding.¬ "We have fun and there is lot's laughing and activity going on,"¬ said Hughes.¬
Jacob Wells a high school student who volunteers at Poplin Way, the attached Assisted Living Facility, spoke about how the residents react when he comes to visit.
"They seem to like when I come to visit because I help them with the puzzles, it takes up time for them, less time for them to be bored," Jacob said. "They should be happy not sad."
Patricia Bernier (Patti) fell into volunteering when her husband, Bill, was a resident at Colonial.¬ He sadly passed on Aug. 18.¬ Bernier pitched in to help when needed.
"Bill would be sleeping and I would see how busy the girls got, so I would get involved," she said.
"I used to work as a housekeeper in a hospital and nursing home, so I'm familiar with the system."¬
Bernier continues in her husband's memory to volunteer at Colonial Poplin in her spare time and did so on Thanksgiving Day with other family members.¬ She even participated with the activities department to bring the residents out to eat across the street to Fremont Pizza. When I spoke with her on the phone, she started to choke up a little when she stated, " In Bills obituary, In Lieu of flowers, I asked others to visit people in their local nursing homes." I had the pleasure of working with Bill myself and I think he would be proud of his wife Patricia.
This story would not be complete without asking the residents how they feel about volunteers.¬ I spoke with Carol Rich, in her tidy little apartment at Poplin Way, on a Saturday afternoon.¬ Rich is a quiet soft spoken woman. She spoke of Jacob fondly. " We look forward to his visits," she said.¬ "He's excellent at puzzle making and a lot of fun. He kids around with us, and that's what everyone needs, some uplifting."
Raymond Souza, a very social Poplin Way resident, who resides with his little dog, Checkers, in his comfortable apartment with a lot of memories from home said with a chuckle, " I like to see Jacob. He plays pool with me, but I don't like it when he wins."¬
Hope Wisentaner, a spunky Colonial Poplin resident with long beautiful white hair, always tells it like it is and travels around in her wheel chair, using her feet. When I asked about the volunteers, she said, "That girl that helps us with bingo is nice."
"She helps us a lot. She puts up with us," laughs Wisentaner.
At the end of the day making a puzzle, helping with crafts and bingo, holding a hand or just listening to our elders and their wisdom, is a gift. In Lieu of flowers you could be a hero too. Just volunteer your time. It's priceless.
