Hospital:  Volunteer Awareness in the time of COVID-19

Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Awareness

Many Auxiliaries host and/or support activities at VA medical facilities, nursing homes and local hospitals.  In fact, one out of every 10 Auxiliary members volunteers through our Hospital Program.  During this time of COVID-19:

• Be aware of the facility's safety regulations.

• Some facilities are choosing to limit, suspend or cancel patient activities provided by outside organizations.  Call or email your facility contact two to three days before showing up to volunteer.  They will advise you on whether you are to come to the facility or not.
  

• Wash your hands with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
  

• Avoid shaking hands with others.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.

• Stay home if you are sick or becoming sick.

• Read the following information provided by the VA:
  

  • VA is ready for coronavirus - and working to protect you.
    

  • The latest VA updates on coronavirus and common-sense tips on preventing the spread of disease
    

Keeping you and our veterans healthy is our first priority.

National Volunteer and Community Recruitment:

April 19-25, 2020 is stated as "National Volunteer Week" and "Community Volunteer Recruitment Week".  Volunteers are essential for nonprofits, especially in our hospitals and medical facilities where there is usually more work to do than staff to do it.  Be sure to check with the facility on guidelines for Coronavirus protection.

Volunteers:

• Boost the power of employees.

• Lightens the load during heavy peak times.

• Increases the impact of care to our Veterans.
  

When doing research on when we should ask people to volunteer, I found the following:

• Best time of day is from 11 am - 2 pm.
  

• Best day of the week is Tuesday.

• Best month of the year is ANY MONTH!!
  

Our Hospital Volunteer Recruitment Kit can be found on our website:  www.vfwauxiliary.org/resources/hospital

Resources

• Veterans Voices Writing Project (VVWP)
  
  • www.veteransvoices.org
    

• Veteran & Military Suicide Awareness and Prevention
  
  • Support & Resources
    
    • Veterans Crisis Line
      
      • Call:  1-800-273-8255, press 1
        
      • Text:  83855
        
      • Chat:  www.veteranscrisisline.net
        

• Help Heal Veterans (Therapeutic Craft Kits)
  
  • www.healvets.org
    

• Patients Like Me
  
  • www.patientslikeme.com/join/vfw
    

• VA Office of Research & Development
  
  • Veterans health and well-being has expanded in recent years.
    
  • Qualified investigators use their scientific knowledge to develop care solutions for our Veterans.
    
  • Get your fact sheet at www.research.va.gov.  IBS, HIV, telehealth, diabetes continuity of care, it talks about antibiotics, microvascular disease which leads to leg amputations (Korean Vets), combat victims with mental health issues later in life, etc.  I had a Veteran come when I worked night shift tell me that he couldn't sleep and he had sleepless nights at home.  I questioned him further and he told me that in war time he slept at night with grenades and ammunition at his side and he doesn't feel comfortable that he doesn't have it here. 
    

• The Campaign to Change Direction
  
  • www.changedirection.org
    
  • The campaign to change direction - is to change the culture of mental health so that all of those in need receive the care and support they deserve. The Campaign encourages everyone to pay attention to their emotional well-being – and it reminds us that our emotional well-being is just as important as our physical well-being. Change Direction addresses common barriers to understanding mental health and raises awareness about Five Signs that may indicate someone is suffering emotionally and needs help: change in personality, agitation, withdrawal, decline in personal care, and hopelessness. Over 240 partner organizations are using their unique skills and opportunities to spread awareness.
    

• Give an Hour
  
  • www.giveanhour.org
    
  • Give an hour – we provide those in need with help and hope.  Give an Hour, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) providing free mental health services to military members, veterans, and their families, was founded in September 2005 by Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, a psychologist in the Washington, D.C., area. Give an Hour has been instrumental in the development of the community-based approach to addressing the challenges that face our nation's military community, having created a successful model for harnessing skill-based volunteers eager to offer their services. Thus far, the network of nearly 7,000 licensed mental health professionals has provided more than 200,000 hours of care and support to those in need.
    
• One Mind
  
  • www.onemind.org
    
  • One Mind is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to benefiting all affected by brain illness and injury through fostering fundamental changes that will radically accelerate the development and implementation of improved diagnostics, treatments, and cures; while eliminating the stigma. One Mind believes in open science principles and creates global public-private partnerships between governmental, corporate, scientific, and philanthropic communities. 
    

• The Elizabeth Dole Foundation
  
  • www.elizabethdolefoundation.org
    
  • Preeminent organization empowering, supporting, and honoring our nation’s military caregivers; the spouses, parents, family members and friends who care for America’s wounded, ill or injured veterans.
    

Hospital Bulletins

Hospital Program Checklist - 2019-2020

May/June 2020

April 2020

March 2020

February 2020

December 2019/January 2020

October 2019

September 2019

August 2019

July 2019

Ideas for Hospital Program towards Year End Reports

Remember, year-end reports cannot be blank.  There are so many ways to volunteer, donate or creative projects.  Sew, send cards, visits, listen to veterans stories, etc.  The awards are one-$10 (most completed report) and three-$5 awards.

2019-2020 Application for Hospital Charms

2019-2020 Application for Hospital Charms Page 2(if needed)

Hospital / VAVS

Through unselfish giving of time, energy, love and devotion, thousands of Veterans have been cheered, comforted, loved and thanked for the DEDICATED SERVICE to us when it was needed.  All that we are and have today, we owe to the Veterans who answered the call.  Now it is our turn to let them know how much we appreciate all they did, never forgetting their sacrifices.  These Veterans can be found in the VA hospitals, nursing homes, out-patient clinics and in their homes in every community.  More and more their numbers are increasing as they become older and experience more health problems.  Some of these men and women have no families or relatives to offer them comfort.  VFW Auxiliary members sit with them, read for them, or maybe write a letter for them.

Volunteering is rewarding.  If Auxiliaries are unable to volunteer at VA Medical and Non-Medical facilities, nursing homes, etc., there are other means of serving our Veterans in those facilities.  There are sewing patterns of items needed, money donations from Auxiliaries for Hospital Projects or therapueutic kits.  The Hospital Program promotes volunteerism and recognition for volunteers and also the Veterans Voices Writing Project (VVWP), which is a program that helps our Veterans express themselves and communicate.  VVWP has been shown to help manage Veteran's PTSD symptoms and reduce the risk of suicide.  Observe and be aware of your Hospitals and Clinics needs.  For example: An Auxiliary was notified that a VA Hospital had a problem with their water fountains and the Auxiliary stepped up and provided bottled water to this Hospital.  This is only one of many ways Auxiliaries can help!  Be creative to help our hospitalized Veterans.

VAVS Hospitals

Bring in Spring Ideas!

Bring in Spring Ideas for Veterans!

Believe it or not, Spring begins this week!  Make a plan to boost the morale of those who have been confined to a medical or care facility all winter.  Easter is Sunday, April 12 and Passover begins on Wednesday, April 8.  A few ideas to brighten someone's day:

• Have youth dye eggs or fill plastic eggs with candy.  Deliver them to the facility.

• Have youth make a flower craft for patient rooms and/or doors.
  

• Deliver a bouquet of hand-picked spring flowers (daffodils and tulips come to mind).

• Bring in the green!  Send a small, sturdy houseplant.

• Send a thinking of you card.

• Purchase a spring themed puzzle for the facility.

Spring is filled with days and months designated to honor our service members and their families:

• Month of the Military Child (April)

• Gold Star Spouses Day (April 5)

• Month of the Military Caregiver (May)

• Loyalty Day (May 1)

• V-E Day (May 8)

• Military Spouse Appreciation Day (Friday before Mother's Day - May 8, 2020)

• Armed Forces Day (Third Saturday in May - May 16, 2020)

• Memorial Day [Last Monday in May (observed) - May 25, 2020]

May is also Mental Health Awareness Month.  I encourage you to look ahead and think of ways to honor those in medical facilities on these days.

S.W.A.P.:

Robes for Female (and Male) Veterans, from Kathleen Ditch, Dept. of Missouri

Ask Auxiliary, Post and community members to donate new robes to inpatient female (and male) veterans.  Robes should be long/full length for complete coverage.  Pockets and a waist tie are also essential.  The robes will be a welcome gift to assist in the dignity and comfort of patients.

Sewing Patterns

Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary - Dept. of WI

Hospital Wish Lists

Please review the updated Department Hospital site for ideas to serve our hospitalized veterans and their needs. 

• WI Veteran's Home, Union Grove
  

  • #1
    

  • #2
    

• WI Veteran's Home, Chippewa Falls
  

• Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center, Iron Mountain
  

• WI Veteran's Home, King
  

• Tomah VA Medical Center
  

• Minneapolis, MN VA Medical Center
  

  • Wish List
    

  • Volunteer Opportunities
    

• Wm. S. Middleton Memorial VA Hospital, Madison
  

• Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee
  

Department Hospital Chairperson

Kathie Lendosky

1183 Lakeview Rd.

West Bend, WI  53090

(262) 692-9661

lendosky16@charter.net

District Chairpersons - 2019-2020