Reaching Milestone’s people

Deirdre Newman

When Jeff Ruiz makes his rounds at Milestone Health Care Center, he

brings a spark of energy and compassion to the patients.

He doles out salutations and compliments like lollipops, eager to

engage the convalescent home residents in conversation and give them

something to laugh about. He also prays with them to help them

through trying times.

Ruiz, a deacon at Christ Lutheran Church, has been volunteering at

Milestone for more than a year.

“It’s awesome to see these people as they move through [their

lives],” Ruiz said. “You can’t help but be part of their family.”

Ruiz started coming to Milestone to help out his pastor. Ruiz’s

goal is to develop relationships with the residents, which is best

achieved by familiarity and trust, he said.

He and another deacon from the church, who also volunteers at

Milestone, are hoping to make the convalescent home a blueprint for

outreach work at other similar facilities by trying various

techniques and seeing which ones are successful.

They started a Bible study group about a month ago and are in the

midst of creating a praise band to bring music to Milestone.

“We’re using Milestone as a template,” Ruiz said. “We really want

other people to step up and do what we’re doing. We all know the need

[for volunteers] in convalescent homes.”

Through his time spent at Milestone, Ruiz was inspired to create

another service for patients -- letters from strangers who take the

time to write a personal note, which he dubbed “Love Letters.” The

inspiration for this was a patient named Maggi Davidson, 85.

Ruiz had spent a lot of time with her one day, and she told him

how good it felt since she had been so lonely, Ruiz said. Reflecting

on her comment, he thought there were probably a lot of other

patients with the same desolate feelings.

Walking back to his car, he came up with the idea of Love Letters.

Interested letter-writers pick up the letterhead he has customized

and are asked to personalize a letter to a resident, pray over it and

send it. Some letter-writers even ask to hand-deliver theirs, he

said.

“It’s being able to take someone’s chin and look them right in the

eye and tell them that you love them,” Ruiz said.

Ruiz said the rewards of spending time with the Milestone patients

are enormous.

“I did it originally to assist my pastor,” he said. “As it turns

out, the blessings are beyond what you can imagine.”

On Tuesday, as Ruiz did his rounds, he chatted with Davidson, who

was getting ready to stand up for the first time in 10 months. At the

end of the conversation, he took her hand and said a prayer for the

momentous occasion about to occur.

“Maggie’s been a special friend for me,” Ruiz said. “In the midst

of her being in this facility, she’s always nice and up.”

Milestone Activity Director Anabel Lopez said the convalescent

home is grateful for Ruiz’s outreach.

“I think he has a good personality,” Lopez said. “When he comes in

and talks to the residents, they know him. We’re lucky to have him

here.”