Here, one of our In-Patient Unit volunteers, Caroline Sugden, shares why volunteering for Isabel is a family affair.
She joined our team as an IPU hospitality volunteer in December last year, following in the footsteps of her mother Mary, who volunteered as IPU receptionist for 16 years.
Becoming an Isabel volunteer is especially poignant for Caroline, as her mother also spent her final weeks as an In-patient with us before passing away at the Hospice in October 2018.
“I wanted to be among patients and families and it’s lovely being in hospitality as I’m constantly busy,” Caroline said.
“I remember when Mum was being cared for here, my sisters and I almost felt guilty that we seemed to be getting just as much care as Mum was. Being able to now be of some comfort to other families who are going through the same thing is my way of saying thank you to the Hospice for looking after my family so well.”
Caroline said Mary got so much joy from volunteering. “She absolutely loved it. She was a real people person and I could always tell how much she enjoyed it. I think she would be so pleased and proud of what I’m doing.”
Being so familiar with the Hospice, our staff and volunteers meant that when the time came, being admitted to the In-Patient Unit held no fear for Mary.
“I’ll never forget the day she was admitted,” Caroline said. “She wanted to be here in her last days and I remember when we drove away from the house she never once looked back over her shoulder.
“She was so focussed on getting here and when we pulled up in the car park there were six or seven members of staff all outside waiting for her. For Mum, it felt like coming home and it was such a touching moment.”
Caroline, a church administrator, added: “I didn’t think I would have the time to be able to volunteer until after I’d retired, but around Mum’s second anniversary I had such a strong feeling that I wanted to do it sooner.
“A lot of friends and family have asked how I feel coming back here, but when I come through the doors I feel like Mum’s here. It makes me feel close to her and I know she would be so pleased with what I’m doing.”
