For Longtime Volunteer Joe Turnell, Hospice Is About Living and Loving People
November 22, 2022
Categories: Colleague Stories
Joe Turnell first started with St. Mary’s back in 1999, a fresh-faced, newly retired man looking to get involved with the folks around him and eager to help out in any way possible. Now, he is our longest-serving Hospice volunteer, pre-dating even the biggest parts of our program. As part of our celebration of Hospice and Home Care Month in November, we wanted to pass on the invaluable insight we have gained from the man who has seen and done it all.
How did you first hear about hospice care and why did you want to get involved?
When I was about 6 months away from retiring, I told my wife that I wanted to do the Lord’s work and give back to the community. I had no idea what I would do. I did not choose hospice – God did. About one month after I retired, there was something in the local paper about St. Mary’s looking for hospice volunteers. So, I called and went to several training classes that they had back then and had my first person to visit. He had throat cancer and could barely talk, and I felt that this is where God wanted me to be. I also have been a mentor in the Clarke County schools for 23 years. People ask me how I can change gears from young kids who are starting out their lives to being with hospice people. I tell them “With God, all things are possible.” I love all the volunteering that I do. I get great satisfaction out of helping others.
When I first started with hospice, I was like a person leaving on a trip, not knowing where I was going and what I was to do when I got there. But doing it for 22 years and having about 125 people in my hospice file, it has grown me as a person who sees the world with a great respect for life, and how precious it is for all of us. It has opened my eyes wide.
You have seen many changes in both hospice care and St. Mary’s itself. What has it been like watching these changes over the past two decades, and what have been the most notable changes?
When I was first starting out with St. Mary’s, hospice was new to them and to me. I think we both grew over the years, from putting more time, money, and energy into the program. I’ve enjoyed watching the hospice volunteer program grow and seeing more people, young and old, become involved in hospice.
What was the experience that most solidified your mission in compassionate care for those at the end of their lives?
I knew after my first visit that this was something that I wanted to do for a very long time. About 2 years into the program, I had a person who had cancer in his throat and part of his face – he couldn’t talk so we used a chalkboard to communicate with each other. I remember he had beautiful eyes, and was so at peace with his life, it made a lasting impact on how I looked at the world, and how blessed I was.
I think people believe we just go to watch and wait for people to die. I always feel that the hospice person is comforted to have someone with them other than family – and that the family is glad to have someone who cares, and they can feel how much we do. I think some people think hospice is about dying. I think it is about living and loving people.
If you were talking to someone in your community thinking about volunteering in Hospice, what would be the biggest nugget of wisdom or piece of advice you’d pass on?
Just try volunteering with hospice. You will know if it fits like a good shoe. If it does, as it did for me, you won’t ever want to take it off.
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Curious? Discover St. Mary’s Hospice Services
What is hospice?
It’s a special form of care designed to enhance the quality of life for people with a terminal illness who are nearing the end of life. Hospice provides symptom relief to the patient and support to the family.
What is the goal of hospice care?
The goal of hospice is not to cure the terminal condition but to make the person’s remaining life as full, meaningful and peaceful as possible. With compassionate and personalized care, our hospice team provides support for the patient to die with dignity in the comfort of their own home, surrounded by their loved ones.
Who can receive hospice care?
Anyone of any age with long-term chronic illness and a life expectancy of six months or less if the terminal condition follows its normal course. We provide care for people all ages – from newborns to those in their 100s – of all faiths, races and cultures, and with conditions ranging from AIDS to cancer, stroke and heart disease. In addition, if a person is eligible for hospice care, they will be accepted regardless of their ability to pay.
What do hospice volunteers do?
Our wonderful volunteers go into homes to be a supportive presence for the patient and their family. Often they provide comfort through words, prayer and attentive listening. They bring their own skills and certifications to the role, including pet therapy, music and massage. We also love our administrative volunteers, who assist our staff in roles that don’t involve direct patient care.