‘It’s an honor to be let into people’s lives.’
Hospice volunteer of 24 years is inspired to care for others
When Deb Fehr, Norwood Young America, lost her mother to a stroke in 1998, she never expected how much she would be impacted by the time her mom spent in hospice care. Deb was so taken aback by the care and support her family received from Ridgeview’s hospice program that she was immediately drawn to volunteer.
Deb had worked as a housekeeper for several years, which made going into homes feel very familiar and natural to her when she began as a hospice volunteer. So natural that more than two decades later, Deb still volunteers — having donated nearly 2,000 hours of her time to the Ridgeview patients and their families.
“I have always gotten back tenfold what I put into volunteering,” shared Deb. “I feel there are natural-born caregivers and those are the ones who are drawn to this type of work. It seems many of the volunteers have ‘been there’ in some capacity with their own families and are inspired to help others going through similar circumstances.”
Volunteers offer companionship and emotional support
Ridgeview’s hospice team focuses on caring, not curing. The goal is to help patients who are nearing the end of their lives feel peace, comfort and dignity. Hospice volunteers like Deb play an important role within Ridgeview hospice, offering companionship and emotional support.
“It is such an overwhelming time for families. Any time I can offer assistance or give a caregiver a break is so rewarding. It’s an honor to be let into people’s lives,” said Deb.
Volunteers help provide respite care to families, which allows caregivers time to leave for an appointment, run errands or simply take some time for themselves. Though equally important to respite care, the volunteers are there to offer a smile and a listening ear.
Deb recalls a young patient with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) who found it difficult to speak to his family about death and dying but was able to talk openly to her. Later his wife shared with Deb how comforting that had been for him. “Hospice volunteers offer a listening ear and often it’s much easier to talk to us about those hard topics than it is to discuss it with family," said Deb.
Connecting with patients on a personal level
Deb enjoys looking through photos with patients and hearing about their loved ones. She always looks for a way to connect with each patient on a personal level — often finding a relatable hobby or interest to talk about — like gardening, hunting or fishing, a few of Deb’s passions.
Deb and her husband Jim, live on their family farm in Norwood Young America along with Deb’s 96-year-old father-in-law, Dick. They have two grown daughters who reside in the area and five grandchildren, ranging in age from seven to 25.
For more information about volunteering with Ridgeview’s hospice program or other volunteer opportunities, visit ridgeviewmedical.org/about-us/volunteer/opportunities/.
