Niagara Hospice has scheduled a volunteer training for 5 p.m. Sept. 25-26 at its Lockport campus, 4675 Sunset Drive.
Marketing, Public Relations and Volunteer Services Director Tricia Degan said, "We are in need of more volunteers interested in working with our hospice patients, including pet owners. Requests for friendly visits have grown and we hope to be able to pair volunteers with our patients in a way that is meaningful for both the patient and the volunteer."
Degan said there are many volunteer opportunities available that include working with patients as well non-patient related tasks. Volunteer opportunities include:
- Companion visits
- Pet and music visits
- Transportation for shopping or medical visits
- Light housework or home repairs
- Hairdressing
- Veterans to visit with hospice patients who are veterans
- Vigil team volunteers
- Working with events and other fundraisers
- Office work, mailings
- Speakers' bureau
- Help maintaining Memorial Gardens
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, as well as 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.
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 September volunteer training.
Call 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 at
www.NiagaraHospice.org.
