Books on Wheels combats social isolation with help from donors, volunteers
Reading can be a fun way to pass the time, but did you know it can also be good for your physical and emotional health?
Reading can reduce stress levels by as much as 68 percent, according to a study conducted by the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom. Another study by Yale University School of Public Health reports the activity can increase your lifespan.
Thanks to the generosity of MultiCare Health Foundation donors, Tacoma-based bookstore King’s Books and MultiCare Volunteer Services, these benefits are being brought to MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital cancer patients through the Tacoma General Books on Wheels program.
High school senior Addy is a Books on Wheels volunteer. Her shift consists of pushing the book cart through the hospital halls and interacting with patients. 
“I’ll go into a patient’s room and I’ll offer them an activity book or a novel; they just light up, and they get so excited,” Addy says. “As I continue to do my rounds, I can walk past and see them and into their little activity, or they’re getting started with their novel. You can tell that it just has really elevated their experience that day.”
After only a few shifts, Addy discovered this program’s reach extends beyond simply offering an activity during long hospital stays. Her role also helps with the isolation experienced in these situations — a responsibility she doesn’t take lightly.
“I do make casual conversations, but when patients put out that little feeler, and they start chatting, it’s my favorite part of the job,” Addy explains. “I remember one day, I met this older woman, and I could tell she had been restless. She just started chatting away, and I learned so much about her life.
“By the end of our conversation, she told me, ‘You’ve really brightened my mindset and renewed that sense of optimism I have,’” Addy continues. “And she thanked me for listening to her and for speaking with her and engaging with her. I loved that day.”
Angelique Banton, nurse manager for the unit Addy works with, says she’s heard nothing but positive comments from staff and patients. Her hope is that this impactful program can expand to other units at Tacoma General.
“It really is such a great way to make the whole healing process go so much more smoothly,” Addy says. “I think it’s kind of like the butterfly effect. It’s not just about the patient who gets the book. It’s about the patient who gets the book, and it makes them have a little more optimism or a little more hope and get through their recovery a little better. This also helps their doctor, helps their nurses and it makes that whole process so much easier.”
