On most days, you’ll find Joanne Gruber roaming the halls of St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit.
She creates gift baskets for new mothers, assists visitors in navigating the hospital, or handles laundry – all part of her nearly thirty years as a volunteer at this southwestern Ontario facility.
At 91 years old, Gruber has no intention of slowing down anytime soon.
“It’s meeting people and working with the babies, and that’s why I really like it, because it gives me something to do and I can be active. I just don’t like sitting around and being bored.”
Gruber began her volunteer journey in 1996 after retiring from her job as a switchboard operator for a food company in nearby London. She admits that life after retirement felt incredibly dull.
That’s when she reconnected with an old high school friend who managed volunteers at the hospital and encouraged Gruber to join because she “had the personality for it.” In need of a new activity, Gruber decided to give it a shot and quickly fell in love with volunteering.
A Second Family
She spent six months in the continuing-care unit, and when renovations were completed on the pediatrics and obstetrics floor, nurses invited Gruber to join their team. She would work seven-hour shifts for about four-and-a-half days each week, she remembers.
“I love working with babies and the moms, and it was like a second family to me up on the third floor,” she shared. “I was setting up prenatal classes, I was taking the first photos of the babies and I was doing filing.”
Gruber is currently one of 74 volunteers at the hospital. They welcome patients at entrances, deliver samples to labs, run the gift shop, and assist medical staff in various ways.
Karen Davies, president and CEO of St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital, emphasized how vital their work is.
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Gruber finishes the laundry at STEGH’s neonatal intensive care unit. Volunteers like Gruber fill crucial roles at the hospital, such as greeting patients, helping with wayfinding, running samples to labs and taking patients between different departments. (St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital/Facebook)
“Our volunteers contribute over 1,400 hours each month; if you think about that stretched out over time-that’s almost nine full-time positions just filled by those giving their time,” said Davies. She added that since there are no porter services at the hospital; volunteers help bridge that gap.
“We couldn’t do what we do without them-whether it’s delivering samples [to labs], moving patients around or ensuring they feel welcomed upon arrival or departure-they walk many steps every day here so I’m incredibly thankful for their contributions.”
LISTEN: 91-year-old St. Thomas woman still volunteers at local hospital
Joanne Gruber started volunteering at St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital right after she retired in 1996. Now thirty years later at age 91, she’s still going strong while sharing her experiences with CBC’s Isha Bhargava.
The hospital welcomes volunteers from various backgrounds including students and retirees who bring different life experiences into their roles according to Davies who acknowledges that volunteering in a hospital isn’t suited for everyone.
“It takes a very special person to want to volunteer in a hospital,” she pointed out.”It can be a very stressful environment; for instance if you’re stationed in emergency care you’ll encounter things not everyone might handle well.”
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Since starting back in 1996 Gruber has seen plenty change within STEGH which has aided her adjustment to its often hectic atmosphere.
However that’s not true for Gruber who has observed significant changes through renovations along with tech upgrades over time as well as staff turnover during her years there.
Many members of Gruber’s family also have ties with this particular hospital since all eight great-grandchildren were born there throughout her tenure.
As far as how long she plans on continuing her volunteer work? This made her smile: “I hope to keep doing it as long as I can,” she expressed cheerfully.
[Source](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/at-91-this-st-thomas-ont-hospital-volunteer-is-not-ready-to-slow-down-1.7647714)
