Hospital Seeks Volunteers to Socialize with Elderly During Stays

Clara Maass Medical Center, located near Branch Brook Park in the North Ward, is seeking volunteers willing to interact with elderly patients during their stay in the hospital.

Volunteers can engage in activities as simple as playing cards, reading the newspaper aloud or having a conversation with family.

“It’s conversation, socialization . . . someone to help pass the time with. It’s comforting,” said Debbie Sheridan, the nurse manager in the medical center’s medical/surgical unit.

Sheridan noted that seniors who live independently may feel confused or out-of-sorts when they’re in the hospital and out of their home environment. But studies have found that engaging socially with others helps keep the seniors grounded and their minds active.

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and must attend a brief volunteer orientation through the Clara Maass Medical Center Volunteer Office. For more information, contact Kathy Kaminski, CMMC volunteer coordinator, at 973-450-2150.