Niagara Hospice is recruiting volunteers to attend the next Hospice volunteer training scheduled from 5-9 p.m. for Oct. 29 and Oct. 30.
Volunteer Services Coordinator Lisa Schmidt said, "We are in need of more volunteers interested in working with our hospice patients. Requests for friendly volunteer visits have grown and we hope to be able to pair volunteers with our patients, providing a meaningful experience for everyone."
Schmidt said there are many volunteer opportunities available that include working with patients and families as well as indirect patient care. The list below has examples of each:
Companion visits.
Pet and music visits.
Transportation for shopping or medical visits for patients who are able to get out.
Light housework or home repairs.
Hairdressing.
Veterans to visit with hospice patients who are veterans as part of the Niagara Hospice We Honor Veterans program.
Vigil Team volunteers.
Working with events and other fundraisers.
The agency's most immediate needs for volunteers are in the areas of making home visits to patients in the Lockport, North Tonawanda and Niagara Falls areas, visiting residents at Hospice at Jeanne's House at Northgate and at David's Path at Schoellkopf Health Care Facility, and certified pet visit volunteers.
While visiting patients, volunteers may just talk, read the paper or a book to the patient, play cards or do other activities. They may also just provide a hand to hold while the family caregivers take a break.
Anyone able to help patients by providing light homemaking duties is also encouraged to attend the training.
The Oct. 29 and 30 volunteer training will be held at the Niagara Hospice Administration
Building at 4675 Sunset Drive, Lockport. Anyone interested can contact the Niagara Hospice volunteer office at 280-0748 for an application and to register. More information and volunteer applications are also available at www.NiagaraHospice.org.
Niagara Hospice has served over 25,000 Niagara County residents and their families since 1988. Hospice is specialized care for the terminally ill. Niagara Hospice provides supportive services to both the patient and family - providing more comfort, dignity and choice. For more information, call Niagara Hospice at 439-4417 or visit www.NiagaraHospice.org.
