Recreation items make an especially big difference for patients with no visitors
Graham Wilson* had to recover from his leg amputation at HSC for weeks so medical staff could help his recovery and rehabilitation. During his time at HSC, Wilson didn’t have any visitors, and worried for his mental health with long days ahead and nothing to occupy his mind. Thankfully, HSC’s Volunteer Services and the HSC Foundation Patient Comforts Fund helped alleviate those worries for Wilson.
The Patient Comforts Fund not only provides clothing items for patients in need, but also offers recreation items to support their mental health. It could be a book from the book cart that goes around dozens of HSC’s units every day, a local newspaper to keep a patient connected to life outside HSC, a board game for a patient to play with a volunteer, or a colouring book to ease anxiety.
“Recreation items make an especially big difference for patients with no visitors. Volunteers will find these patients and sit with them for a while playing crib, cards, or doing a puzzle. Whatever might help the patient’s stay go by easier,” says Jenny Kidder, Manager of Child Life, Spiritual Health, and Volunteer Services at HSC Winnipeg.
Entertainment provides a much-needed break from a patient’s regular hospital routine. However, supplying these items isn’t always straightforward due to limited resources. Other than a few exceptions, when a patient is given an item like a magazine, a colouring book, or a cribbage board, it is theirs to keep largely due to infection control. There’s a high turnover for leisure items, so Kidder and her team of volunteers are always looking for more.
“It’s amazing to see the impact that a volunteer with recreation items can have on a patient’s mood,” says Kidder. “Giving a patient something to do helps them feel a sense of normalcy, and it helps get them out of the regular hospital routine.”
On Giving Tuesday, you can support patients at HSC Winnipeg, when they are facing some of their longest days, by donating to the Patient Comforts Fund.
To make your gift now, please click here and select “HSC Patient Comforts Fund” from the drop-down menu; call us at 204-515-5612 or 1-800-679-8493 (toll-free); or text HSCF to 20222 to donate $25 now (tax receipts will be issued via Mobile Giving Foundation).
*Name and case details have been modified.