Caption: Meals on Wheels aged care volunteer Jane.
More than just a meal
When Jane was considering what to do after her retirement from nursing and working in the aged care sector, volunteering was a natural next step.
For the past 12 years, Jane has volunteered at Meals on Wheels Rockhampton, where she delivers meals to older people, manages office processes through her secretary role and helps out in the kitchen.
“I set my path to retirement early and found areas I was interested in. I enjoy the familiarity with my past working role,” Jane says.
“I felt it was an area where people are either not given enough information or they are unable to understand the information. Volunteering in aged care gave me a role as a conduit to help with that.”
One of Jane’s favourite parts of volunteering is spending time with other volunteers. She also values the time to check in on older people when she delivers their meals.
“It’s an opportunity to ask how they are doing, answer their questions and get to know them. I enjoy being well-rounded and helpful in all aspects of the service,” she says.
She says that volunteering isn’t just about what you can give to someone else, but also what you get in return.
“You can meet new people who share your interests, thereby forming new friendships,” Jane says.
“In caring for my own parents, I’ve learned the value of being calm and patient. When you spend time with older people, you reap the rewards of their knowledge, information and personalities.”
Another benefit of volunteering, she explains, is the opportunity to try different things.
“Don’t be afraid to say this is not for me. People may have to try several things before they find a volunteer role that suits them,” she says.
“There are just so many different ways for people to volunteer.”
Make a positive impact to older people in your community by finding aged care volunteering opportunities.