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“Healing Words” is an innovative program designed to help improve the literacy and well-being of hospitalized patients.

Read Our Story

https://www.va.gov/birmingham-health-care/stories/healing-words-and-hearts/

About Us

Healing Words is a volunteer-led nonprofit initiative that provides bedside reading support to patients in hospitals and care facilities. Our volunteers work with adult patients and veterans receiving care through Veterans Affairs partner sites. By expanding into VA facilities, our organization is committed to supporting veterans’ wellbeing and reducing social isolation through meaningful human interaction and storytelling.

Healing Words aims to:

• Support literacy and lifelong learning, even in the hospital setting

• Stimulate cognitive function and mental engagement for long-term patients

• Promote comfort and relaxation through soothing and engaging literature

• Foster human connection through shared stories and meaningful interaction

Healing Words works in partnership with the Literacy Council of Central Alabama and local public libraries to provide access to high-quality reading materials for patients and veterans receiving care in hospital settings. Through these collaborations, our program has distributed more than 250 books to support bedside reading interactions that promote comfort, connection, and literacy engagement during hospitalization.

Serving Veterans Through VA Partnerships

Healing Words is expanding its outreach to Veterans Affairs facilities to support veterans during hospitalization and recovery. Volunteers provide reading companionship tailored to patient preferences, helping create moments of comfort, familiarity, and connection.