CALEB NICKERSON
SHAWVILLE July 8, 2020
The palliative care volunteers at the Pontiac Community Hospital (PCH) are waiting for word from the local health authority before they can . . .
return to their posts. The CISSSO recently lifted their ban on visitors to hospitals on June 29, though there are still strict stipulations regarding sanitation.
Carole Valin, who coordinates the volunteer group with her husband Rick, said that at the beginning of the pandemic lockdown in mid-March, they had been told they might not be returning until December, depending on how things went. She said that they received an email from CISSSO last week asking if any of their volunteers would be interested in coming back.
“I heard back today and they said if we were going back we would definitely have to take a course on how to deal with COVID-19 and the special measures we would have to take, the sanitation and all that kind of stuff,” she said in an interview on July 2. “I haven’t heard anything beyond that.”
The volunteer group, which numbers about 30 people, offers comfort to patients in the palliative care ward, as well as performing tasks like making coffee for their families and fetching extra blankets.
Valin said that since their group is mostly in the high-risk category for COVID, only about half of the volunteers would be comfortable returning.
“I know that a lot of our members won’t be comfortable with going, but some will. It’s just going to be whoever feels comfortable with going,” she said. “A lot of people are a little freaked out about this situation, especially when you’re in that age group.”
She added that the work they do makes a big difference with the patients, and said that it’s been hard to be away for so long. Once they have confirmation on their COVID training, Valin said that they would be back as soon as possible.
“I feel kind of bad. It’s a terrible time for people,” she said. “We do what we can and as soon as we can get back in, we will.”
