About Tricia
Tricia has been a Southern Volunteering ACVVS volunteer for 16 years. In that time, she has made many meaningful friendships with the socially isolated older people she visits and remained as a regular visitor to them until they have passed away. Several of the people she has visited have been receiving palliative care in the weeks and months up until their death, and Tricia has shown them compassion and provided much needed social support in this time.
Tricia is a highly valued volunteer in the ACVVS program and is a very special individual whom they all admire and respect greatly.
Q&A Interview:
Disclaimer: The views expressed are the opinions and thoughts of our interviewees, reflecting on their own experiences and views.
I provide companion services and visit clients who may be at their home, aged care facilities or while they are in a nursing home. My clients can be isolated and lonely and when we go out on big drives it may be the only time they get out of the house.
Having had lived experience looking after my Mum, when she passed away, I wanted to do the same for others, so decided to apply to become a volunteer. As I have some spare time available, I wanted to give back and brighten someone’s day.
Volunteering gives me a sense of purpose, and I have made many meaningful friendships with the socially isolated older people I visit and enjoy building a connection during my regular visits right up until they have passed.
You meet the families, and they really appreciate the fact that someone is there to visit their loved one and keep them company. It also gives their family a break and the opportunity to have a trip away knowing that they loved one is not alone. You don’t realise that old people sometimes have no one.
Over the years I have received a lot of support and training from my coordinators and district nurses, which I have appreciated. I do miss the face-to-face contact now as these check-ins are all over the phone these days.
Nothing comes to mind.
Do it! Definitely. If you have some time to spare it is a very rewarding experience. Be prepared to put in the effort and not just give up, be consistent knowing that the people you are visiting look forward to seeing you. It is well worth it!
