Volunteering with Bassett: Hospital Help Provides Relief to Families

Retired respiratory therapist Tim Belew missed being with patients after he stepped away from his practice in 2021. He and his wife purchased a home in Cooperstown and for the past two summers he has volunteered at Bassett Medical Center in palliative and end-of-life care.

“What’s really fulfilling to me is when I can help alleviate an information deficit. Just the simple matter of listening and communicating with a family can be so helpful and comforting to them while their loved one is receiving care,” said Tim. “The depth of appreciation is astounding.”

Tim has volunteered all throughout the hospital, in various wards, the emergency department, and the intensive care unit. Providing for those in the waiting room can be as simple as getting coffee or other comfort items or as complex as sitting with them in vigil as they receive hard news about their loved one’s condition.

That solemn but vitally important work continues in the ‘No One Dies Alone’ (NODA) Program, which Tim also participates in. NODA volunteers provide comfort, reassurance, and companionship to patients who are dying who may not otherwise have anyone by their bedside.

“I encourage anyone who is willing to give of themselves and of their time to consider volunteering,” said Tim. “The gratification I feel spending time with patients and families, and the appreciation I receive from the workers I help is really spectacular. The reception I get from every single person is tremendous.”

Bassett Healthcare Network volunteers are not required to have any experience working in a healthcare setting to serve. Anyone who wants to give back, from high schoolers to retirees, is welcome. Learn more by clicking here. There are a wide variety of opportunities available, so volunteers are able to serve in the areas that most interest them.