Ana Rankovic is a volunteer with the Friendly Visiting program at Circle of Care.
Volunteers Spread their Wings
Patients at Mount Sinai and Bridgepoint are now benefiting from the compassionate touch of Circle of Care’s volunteers.
This past year, Mount Sinai Hospital’s Family Health Team and Bridgepoint’s Palliative Care Unit began matching patients with our specially trained volunteers in a cross-site initiative that brings comfort and support to patients and their family members. Riding on the success of our popular Friendly Visiting program—which provides companionship and relief from social isolation—patients from Mount Sinai’s Family Health Team are partnered with a volunteer who can assist with everyday errands, such as trips to medical appointments and shopping, or who can simply spend some time visiting.
“The pain and loneliness of isolation is so real,” says Friendly Visiting volunteer Ana Rankovic. “I want to give back to marginalized members of society, and this experience has been an ideal way to increase my community involvement. Also, my own life has been enriched with this meaningful new relationship.”
Volunteers also provide practical, emotional and spiritual support for patients of Bridgepoint’s Palliative Care Unit who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Through this partnership, volunteers help make these difficult passages more manageable and meaningful for people facing end of life, and for their loved ones who benefit from respite provided by these visits.
Those wishing to volunteer with Circle of Care can contact Volunteer Resources at 416-635-2860 x 375 or volunteer@circleofcare.com for more details.
This story is featured in Circle of Care’s Annual Report 2016-2017.
