An Advocate for Older Adults

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Gwen Davis. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

In good times and bad, every person looks after someone in their life, whether it be a child, a friend or an aging parent. For Gwen Davis, it’s more than one person. It’s her husband, Stanley, and it’s her 93-pound Staffordshire mix, Yoda. Before she retired, it was the people who passed through the workforce development department at the Santee-Lynches Council of Governments. As director of operations, her last assignment was analyzing skills and helping people prepare to enter the workforce.

So, when she left her career behind, it is unsurprising that she found herself in a similar position. For 6 ½ years now, Gwen has been part of the Santee-Lynches Volunteer Ombudsman Program where she is an advocate for residents in long-term and residential care facilities, nursing homes, etc. She’s a friendly face that brings comradery, empowerment and a listening ear to people who are often vulnerable. In short, Gwen enriches the lives of the people she visits in more ways than one and ensures they are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

What inspires you to volunteer?

I’ve always been a volunteer. Even growing up, I was always willing to help somebody wherever there was a need. I’m one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and volunteering is one of the things that we do. It was ingrained in us that you don’t have to get something in return for everything, but if you can help somebody else, when you’re in need, somebody’s probably going to help you, too.

What inspired you to get started with this initiative?

When I retired, I wanted to be used wherever there was a need. I didn’t want to waste my days doing nothing or doing things that were unproductive. I talked to the executive director of the agency where I spent my career, and he mentioned the ombudsman program. By then, I’d started to be around more elderly friends and had been visiting them in assisted living facilities. They really enjoyed having somebody to talk to. Families are so busy sometimes and don’t always get a chance to come by. My visits supplement those family visits, or in some cases may be the only one a resident receives. That sparked my interest in doing something with the elderly and disabled.

Tell us about your volunteer role with Santee-Lynches.

My role is to visit facilities to engage and build relationships with residents, their families and caregivers. It’s an advocacy role. I help them understand their rights as a resident and to make sure they’re getting appropriate care. I help them have their wishes honored by being their voice. I listen and provide them with information and resources. If they have concerns, I see if there is something that can be addressed through the facilities or the family. I empower them to ask for what they need. Additionally, I’m responsible for reporting abuse, neglect, exploitation and problems to the regional ombudsman.

The cog is responsible for four counties. I work Sumter County, which is where I live. There are designated facilities that I visit. Every time I go in, I probably sit down and talk with six to 10 residents. I check on my regular residents, and then, if I see others, I’ll introduce myself and explain what I’m doing.

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?

The biggest reward is knowing that I’m making a difference in someone’s life. When you walk into the building and one of your regular residents knows you’re coming to visit, their eyes light up. I try to make myself available to staff, too. Even though I’m there to advocate for residents, I want them to know that their concerns are our concerns as well, because they’re there to care for those individuals. I find it rewarding when I connect with people and when I see that something I had a hand in worked out for them, making their life a little bit better.

What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?

You can’t put a price on spending time with people in long-term care facilities. They might not have imagined this was where they’d be in this point in their life, but these are their circumstances. It also helps me to see that, as I’m aging too, there are people who genuinely care. People are willing to extend themselves and use their time to benefit others. We live in a fast-paced world where so much of the focus is on self, and we forget about the person on the sideline that may not be able to have the life that they once had.

What should people know about this work or the population you serve?

Our aging population is growing all the time, as well as the number of people with disabilities. Younger people can end up in assisted living or residential care facilities, too, due to injury or a health condition.

Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?

We all need somebody. We’re designed to need others. Even if you’re having a bad day, consider that you might still be better off than somebody in a different situation. Sometimes, you can help someone by simply listening to them. There are times when they just want to talk and to not be hurried or told what they need to do. Even if they’re repeating a story, just engage and listen. It makes them feel better, and it makes you feel better as a volunteer, knowing you took the time to do so.

Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?

If you’re considering volunteering, don’t think about how much you have on your plate already. It could be 30 minutes or an hour each week that you volunteer. Whatever time you can fit in makes a difference. Look at it as a reward. You’ll always walk out feeling better than you did before, because you’ve helped somebody, and it didn’t cost much more than your time.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Gwen? Find local volunteer opportunities.