Betsy Louton coordinates Hearts and Hands volunteers

Betsy Louton, Hearts and Hands Volunteer Coordinator

Betsy Louton, the new Hearts and Hands’ Volunteer Coordinator, wants people to know what Hearts and Hands is – ” a fine, fine example of people taking care of each other on the island.”

Hearts and Hands pairs volunteers with those in need of limited, on-going help. The organization is now allied with the Senior Services Center.

Louton says, “What impresses me the most as I meet our recipients is their unfailing good spirit. Many are frail, unsteady, and unable to get regularly get out of the house to see others and yet their smiles will warm your heart, they are so grateful to have a visit, and have wonderful stories to share.

“Initially the work and time commitment of a volunteer feels like service, but soon one realizes there is great personal benefit in offering such care. These people are our island’s treasure and they have much to offer someone who chooses to care.”

Louton came to the island with her husband John about three years ago. Long an educator and administrator, she had almost no background in social services. She joined the Senior Center Advisory Board — “a wonderful place to be.”  As Hearts and Hands underwent a change in coordinators last winter, Louton realized “It was time for me to do something like working with Hearts and Hands – it just appealed to me” — even though “when I took the position I didn’t know exactly what it was going to be.”

She has had long conversations with the 15 current volunteers and has focused on getting the administrative work fine-tuned and streamlined. She is working on getting a brochure ready that she can take to the public.

She hopes to meet personally with the recipients of Hearts and Hands assistance. “A lot of people could use help – we’re an aging population – the needs are greater because of the dual isolation of living on an island and in a rural setting. Hearts and Hands allows many to meet the demands of independent living; they wouldn’t be here otherwise.”

For many years, Hearts and Hands was affiliated with Lahari Hospice Center.  When this organization dissolved with the aim of re-directing the facility towards some form of Senior Assisted Living, Hearts and Hands joined forces with the Senior Center.

This move offers several advantages. It allows frequent collaboration with Linda Trethaway, the Senior Center Coordinator. There are times when needs are beyond the scope of Hearts and Hands and Linda is there to offer direction and guidance. Tretheway is in touch with the different stages of care and how to access available services.

The Senior Center is also a central gathering place for our seniors and offers Louton a great opportunity to see members of this community on a regular basis.

Since joining with the Senior Center, two orientation sessions have been held to train volunteers. Now it is important to get more volunteers, says Louton, most of whom work under two hours a week.

Hearts and Hands began as Faith in Action, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. While the name connotes a religious organization, the goal was simply to bring volunteers of many faiths together to help others, says Louton.

“Many of our seniors live with limited abilities and opportunities for social contact. Caring family members are often not living on island. Hearts and Hands volunteers generally visit their recipient once a week offering light housekeeping, errands and shopping, transportation, meal preparation, and most often, simple a friendly visit. The needs of our recipients are often simple, and yet, to those unable to perform such tasks, this interaction is of critical importance.”

Washington State’s population is changing and Orcas Island is experiencing an even more extreme change, says Louton. The 85 year and older is the fastest growing segment of our population and over 60 is twice that of the rest of our state.  At the same time the San Juan County Health Department has scaled all senior and personal health programs back by 12% to reflect reduced tax revenue. “We all know living on an island has many unique challenges. For our seniors in need, these challenges are magnified,” says Louton.

Hearts and Hands provides an orientation and regularly communicates with all volunteers. “A very dedicated group of volunteers have been with the organization for many years, but we are also in need of more volunteers. It is especially important to have volunteers ready to step in when a need arises,” says Louton.

Some people are reticent to get involved because of their schedules often including travel or houseguests. But with enough volunteers, there could be substitutes to continue regular service, Louton says.

Those interested in becoming a volunteer, or would earning more about what such a commitment entails, are asked to call Betsy Louton at 376-7723 or email her at heartsandhands@orcasonline.com