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Volunteering
Becoming a Family
Support Volunteer for Mountain Valley Hospice could be one of
the most unique, exciting and rewarding experiences of your
life. Unique because you will experience many of the paradoxes
of life's journey at a time when those for whom you are providing
support are experiencing the most emotionally charged period
of their life. Exciting because this will encourage you to grow-
to live, not merely exist. Rewarding because you will be making
a difference in the lives of others.
Are you:
- Over 18 and emotionally mature?
- A person who can maintain confidentiality regarding patient and family information?
- Able to accept people as they are presently regardless of their backgrounds or beliefs?
- Skilled in listening and sensitive to the needs of families who are in a stressful situation?
- Able to complete our entire training program?
- Able to work as a member of a team and follow the Plan of Care?
- Able to commit to our Volunteer Program for at least one year?
- In possession of a telephone and a means of transportation?
As a Volunteer your responsibilities would include, but not be limited to:
- Providing support to the patient and their family.
- Providing companionship to the patient.
- Listening. Allowing the patient or caregiver to express their feelings and tell their story.
- Provide respite care to the patient in order for the caregiver to rest, run errands, etc.
- Ensure the patient's safety in the absence of the caregiver.
- Visit and communicate with the patient as often as deemed necessary by the Plan of Care.
- Communicate to the Coordinator of Volunteers and other team members any changes that you observe during your visit.
- Provide timely documentation of all visits and telephone calls.
- Ensure the utmost in confidentiality relating to any patient or family information.
Training
All new Volunteers receive comprehensive training by our interdisciplinary team. Training sessions are held periodically and scheduled around the availability of staff and trainees.
We hold training sessions on weekends as follows:
- Saturday from 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
- Sunday from 12 Noon to 5:00 P.M.
Readiness
At Mountain Valley Hospice, we realize that our area is blessed with a
wonderfully talented and diverse population and we welcome you to
share your comforting and caring abilities to those we serve. However,
we must insist on one important pre-requisite. We ask that all new
volunteers not be experiencing any unresolved grief issues and not
to have experienced a close personal loss in the past year.
If you see yourself described in any of the above, we welcome you to contact the Coordinator of Volunteers at (518) 725-4545 to obtain a registration form.
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Volunteers:
The
Heart
of Hospice
Volunteers
play an
extremely
important role in hospice nationwide.
Without them, in fact,
most hospices would not be able to carry on their work.
Call
your local
hospice to find out
more about volunteering. |
