Bethany Lutheran Health Services offers many opportunities for volunteerism. From landscaping and grounds work to assisting with activities and one-on-ones with residents and tenants, there is something for everyone.
A longstanding volunteer, Nancy Ruffcorn, shared that volunteering “is really a mindset of giving back to your community, and obviously, we have more time to do it when you retire.” She began volunteering at Bethany because her church, St. Timothy in Council Bluffs, was already committed to supporting Bethany Lutheran Health Services as a sponsoring church. Additionally, Nancy’s mother had lived in assisted living for years, which helped her understand the challenges of aging and the needs of residents firsthand.
“My mother had Alzheimer’s disease, and we kept her at home as long as we could until it wasn’t safe anymore,” Nancy said. “You learn quickly how to interact and understand that those with dementia sometimes need a village—not just the staff, but also other families are part of the well-being of the residents.”
Nancy recommended starting as a volunteer in activities: “The best place to begin volunteering is through activities! Once you get comfortable, you can expand to more one-on-ones.” She fondly recalled another volunteer who would come in just to refill the bird feeders!
Angel Watts, Activities Director at Bethany Lutheran Home, and Michael Thomas, Activities Coordinator at Bethany Heights, agree that “without our volunteers, some of our events and programs wouldn’t be possible.”
“Our residents love hearing our volunteers’ stories,” Angel said. “For many of them, they can’t do a lot on their own, so they need that one-on-one time.”
Michael added, “We love having volunteer groups, especially school or youth groups. We mark it on the calendar for our tenants to see. It’s fun watching the kids ask questions and learn about the residents’ history.”
Angel also noted, “Ever since COVID, it’s been hard to get our residents out of their rooms—they like to isolate themselves. Volunteers provide engagement and more constant encouragement than even our staff can, even if it’s just for a walk.”
So, how can you get involved?
Reach out to Angel Watts and let her know you’re interested. We have a volunteer application you can fill out, indicating the areas you’d like to help in. Volunteers assisting with activities or one-on-ones will have a brief training and background check, while those helping with service projects just need to coordinate with Angel and Michael to schedule a time.
Join us on October 5th from 9 AM to 3 PM for our Fall Volunteer Day. Our goal is to beautify the landscapes in front of Bethany Lutheran Home and Bethany Heights! Lunch will be provided.
If you’re interested in volunteering, please reach out to Angel Watts at watts@blhs.care or call Bethany Lutheran Home at 712-328-9500.
