Eye on Health: Rugby Teen Volunteers - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Eye on Health: Rugby Teen Volunteers

Getting older and living in a long-term care center is a fact of life for many people.  
It can be a difficult transition, but it helps when you have visitors to brighten up the day.
That's where a volunteer program for teenagers in Rugby comes in.
Carla Burbidge has this week's Eye on Health."

It's a simple thing.
Passing the ball around, and playing various games with the residents at the Heart of America Long Term Care Center in Rugby.   
(Kyle Odden, Rugby 7th Grader) "Sometimes families don't come, so they like having us here and spending time with them."
Remember the program known as Candy Stripers.  
It started back in 1944 in New Jersey.  
Volunteers dresses in red and white aprons would provide extra help at hospitals.  
The Heart of America Medical Center was involved in that for years, but they are no longer called candy strippers, rather volunteers. In fact, 6th graders spend time at the long-term care center during the school year.  
And now in the summer months, many of those students come back as volunteers.
(Linda Duchscher Director of Volunteers) "It's a different face, their faces light up when the teenagers arrive."
23 teenagers are part of the program this summer.  
They take the residents outside, go for ice cream, or just hang out.  
(Linda Duchscher Director of Volunteers) "It is such a good program we are blessed.
(Mariah Pfeifer, Rugby 7th grader) "They like to spend time with us."
Important connections are made between the generations.  
It's worked well for everyone involved.  
(Kyler Odden, Rugby 7th Grader) "I will be back next year, if they want me."
For Eye on Health I'm Carla Burbidge.