Volunteers are the heart of hospice

Most of us remember a person who seemed to go out of their way to help us during a difficult time in our life. It could have been a grandparent, a special teacher or even a stranger who became a friend. The recollections of these caring people remind us of the good that makes up the communities we are part of.

April 15 – 21 is National Volunteer Week, a time to honor and celebrate those caring individuals that do so much for so many – particularly those hospice volunteers that accompany people during life’s final journey. Nowhere will you find more compassionate people than the volunteers who serve in hospices across the country.

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization reports there are an estimated 430,000 hospice volunteers giving their time and talent to patients and families who are coping with life-limiting illness and loss. These trained volunteers provide more than 19 million hours of service every year.

Last year, more than 1.6 million Americans received care from our nation’s hospices. Whether a volunteer is serving at the bedside, in the office, educating others, or raising awareness, they are the heart of hospice. These volunteers are a part of this special care that brings compassion and dignity to patients and families.

CHI Health at Home has seven dedicated hospice volunteers who provide visits and phone calls to patients and their families. Some of our volunteers also provide on-going support to families after the passing of their loved one. Hospice volunteers also provide valuable support as they help with mailings, events, activities and administrative tasks. In addition, we have many volunteers who provide us with beautiful hand-made quilts for all hospice patients.

“We have so many wonderful people [who] help provide support and encouragement to our patients, their families and the hospice program, and we appreciate everything that they do.” said Cindy Willey, Social Worker and Volunteer Coordinator for CHI Health at Home’s north team. The north team serves those in roughly a 50 mile radius around Carrington including the areas of New Rockford, Fessenden and Harvey. “We are always looking for more people who wish to learn more about hospice and consider volunteering with our program.” Willey encourages people to take time during National Volunteer Week to learn more about volunteer opportunities in your community. You can learn more about hospice by contacting CHI Health at Home Hospice at (855) 860-3464 or visit http://www.CHIatHome.com.