Niagara Hospice has scheduled a volunteer training from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, at Schoellkopf Health Center, 621 10th St., Niagara Falls.
Marketing, Public Relations & Volunteer Services Director Tricia Degan said, "We are in need of more volunteers interested in working with hospice patients that live in the western end of the county, so we have scheduled this training in Niagara Falls to make it more convenient for anyone interested in helping out."
Degan said there volunteer opportunities include working with patients, as well as non-patient related tasks. She noted anyone can attend this training, regardless of where they live.
The agency's most immediate needs for volunteers are to make home visits, as well as certified pet visit volunteers. While visiting patients, volunteers may just talk, read the newspaper 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 much-deserved break.
Niagara Hospice will soon launch a new service for hospice patients aimed at keeping beloved pets and their owners together. "Pet Peace of Mind" services will include financial assistance, based on need, with veterinary appointments and grooming; transporting pets to appointments; assistance with pet care; purchasing needed pet food and supplies. The "Pet Peace of Mind" program requires volunteers have a background in pet care, such as veterinarians, vet techs, pet groomers, pet shelter workers and volunteers, professional dog walkers, etc. Anyone in such a field is encouraged to apply and attend the Oct. 26 volunteer training.
Contact the Niagara Hospice volunteer office at 716-280-0748 for an application or to register for the training. More information and volunteer applications are also available online at
www.NiagaraHospice.org.
