Dubuque resident Julie King has made a significant impact on the lives of hospice patients through her compassionate volunteering efforts. A former nurse, King became involved in hospice care during her medical training, which led her to volunteer at Hospice of Dubuque after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her dedication to caregiving has provided both comfort and companionship to patients and their families during challenging times.
“It’s a neat opportunity to maybe fill a need where you might not even know it exists,” King stated. “Someone coming in with a nice, bright smile and some positive energy can make the difference in someone’s day, especially with some of the heaviness that comes along with not feeling well.” For the past three years, King has dedicated her time to ensuring that patients feel valued and connected.
Creating Meaningful Connections
In her role as a volunteer, King not only offers companionship but also engages in crafting plaster hand molds, which serve as cherished keepsakes for families. The meticulous process takes approximately four to five hours to complete a single mold after creating a cast of a patient’s hand. “There’s something special about the holding of a hand,” King explained. “Giving family members a concrete representation of someone they love—someone they might soon lose—is powerful.”
Her commitment extends beyond simply completing tasks; King finds beauty in the emotional connections formed during her volunteering. “A lot of times, it just becomes so much more than what you expected it to be, and I think that’s one of the beauties of volunteerism,” she shared. “You might go in thinking you’re doing one thing, but then it really grows into something even bigger and better.”
With over 10 years of nursing experience, King’s natural inclination to care for others drives her to seek out these opportunities. She believes that providing support—whether to her own children or to strangers in their final days—is a fundamental part of who she is. “It’s just one of those things—it just seems like what I’m supposed to do,” she said. “It’s my yes.”
Impact on Patients and Families
Kevin Dreessens, volunteer coordinator at Hospice of Dubuque, praised King for her dedication and compassion. He noted that she stands out among a team of over 100 volunteers and is always ready to lend a helping hand. “Many times, our patients are in need of companionship,” Dreessens explained. “There’s some isolation for those individuals in hospice care, especially home patients, and the socialization that King provides can really have a positive effect on their overall demeanor.”
For King, the act of creating hand molds serves as a therapeutic outlet, allowing her to find beauty in stressful situations. The gratitude expressed by patients’ families reinforces the importance of her work. “How grateful people are to have someone there taking some time to be with their loved ones, I think it’s really eye-opening to hear,” she reflected. “I feel like I should be thanking them for the time that they allow me to come in and share with their loved ones—especially when they’re ill and time is short.”
As she continues her volunteer work at Hospice of Dubuque, Julie King exemplifies the profound impact that compassion and care can have on individuals and families navigating the complexities of end-of-life situations. Her commitment not only enriches the lives of those she serves but also highlights the invaluable role of volunteers in healthcare settings.
