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Hospice Volunteers...
Do you want to make a
difference
in the lives of terminally ill people?
What is
Hospice?
Hospice is a comprehensive service that
addresses the
physical, emotional and spiritual
needs
of the individuals and families who are
dealing with a terminal
illness. Using a team
approach, hospice focuses on comfort
care
and quality of life. Volunteers are key elements
of the hospice team. Click here for more
information on
hospice care and the hospice
team concept.
Is Volunteering in Hospice for Me?
Some of the core qualities that hospice
volunteers possess
include:
- Compassion
- Good Listening Skills
- Flexibility
- Non-judgmental Attitude
- Emotional Maturity
In addition to the above qualities, hospice
volunteers can not have experienced the loss
of a loved one in the
past year.
What Do Hospice Volunteers Do?
Every effort is made to utilize your specific
interests and
skills. If you wish to donate your
time performing a
professional service,
consideration will be given to this.
Some of
the more common areas in which volunteers
provide assistance
include:
- Providing respite while the caregiver runs
errands
- Offering companionship and socialization to
the patient
- Reading or letter-writing
- Helping with light household chores
- Providing clerical support to the hospice
team
- Assisting with fundraising efforts through
Friends of Hospice*
* Friends of Hospice assists the
Hospice of North Penn
VNA by raising funds to cover unmet needs
of
patients.
Funds are used to pay for home health assistance and
supplies that patients would otherwise be unable to afford.
How Do I Get Started?
Hospice volunteers complete a personal interview
and screening
process, which includes a reference
and criminal background check.
In addition,
Hospice of North Penn VNA offers a 13-hour
training
series, free of charge. Some of the topics
covered include:
- History of Hospice
- Listening and Communication Skills
- Loss and Bereavement
- Role of the Hospice Volunteer
- Hospice Team Member Roles
- Spiritual Aspect of Dying
Our
next volunteer training will take place
Friday, April 8 from 6 - 8:30 pm and Saturday,
April 9 from 8 am to 4 pm at North Penn VNA,
51 Medical Campus Dr., Lansdale
Upon completion of the training, you are
considered ready for patient assignment. You
will be matched
with a patient when a request is
made that matches your schedule of
availability.
Ongoing training and support is available to ensure
that you have a positive volunteer experience.
If you would like to become a hospice volunteer,
please download the
Volunteer
Application,
complete it and mail
it to:
Bill Garrison, Hospice Volunteer Coordinator
Hospice of North Penn
VNA
51 Medical Campus Drive
Lansdale, Pa 19446
or fax it to
Bill's attention at 215-855-1305,
or call
Bill at 215-855-8297 ext. 133 for an
interview.
If you have additional questions, please complete
the
form in the green box on this page which will
send an e-mail to our volunteer coordinator, Bill
Garrison.
You may also call him at 215-855-8297,
ext. 133 or e-mail him directly at
wgarrison@npvna.org.
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