Working with people, they learn more about patient service and communication. In pharmacy classes they learn about drugs and diseases. The experience student volunteers get out of the program gives them a look at the patients from another angle. According to Sister Veronica Baumgartner, director of Caregiver Companion, the program has been around for almost four years and has more than 95 volunteers of all ages. Baumgartner said the program was implemented because the people who take care of their sick and elderly relatives sometimes need extra support.
Caregivers get overwhelmed with their responsibilities.
They can get isolated when they re caring for sick relatives. According to Baumgartner, all volunteers, including the students, are matched up with neighbors according to personality traits and the needs of everyone involved. I have a personal interview with the students as a class. We ve found that volunteers are drawn to certain people because of their circumstances. Some people are looking just to help out with the housekeeping or do laundry.