A critical need for hospice volunteers

By Yvonne Davis
Pine Tree Hospice Volunteer

In this article I want to address the current need for hospice volunteers in our community and share some thoughts about being a hospice volunteer. I would also like to strongly encourage the reader to consider becoming a Pine Tree Hospice volunteer.

Pine Tree Hospice has a critical need for volunteers right now. As you read this, you may be thinking, “I could never do that!” As a hospice volunteer, let me encourage you to re-think that. Hospice volunteers are just ordinary people who are willing to journey along with those who are facing the challenges of illness and end of life.

Just as there are many types of hospice clients, we need many kinds of hospice volunteers. Sometimes that means doing dishes or doing laundry. Sometimes that means being a good listener. Oftentimes that means sharing laughter and tears with a family facing one of the most difficult of times.

As a hospice volunteer I have driven someone to a doctor’s appointment and chatted with them at home for a few minutes. I have read to an individual with dementia who resided in a nursing facility. I have been honored to support a family through final days of their loved one, listening, praying, and sharing memories. I have provided respite for a family caregiver.

It is also important to note that there have been times that I have turned down the opportunity to have a hospice client because of time constraints or personal preference. Hospice volunteers have the freedom to choose how and when they provide service.

A volunteer hospice is a non-profit organization that provides non-medical support such as social, emotional, spiritual, and practical needs to anyone with a progressive life-limiting illness. Volunteer hospices do not have nurses, CNA’s, or Home Health Aides to provide medical or personal care. Rather, these services are provided by the medical hospices in our area.

Volunteer hospices and medical hospices are able to work together. It is not an either/or choice. A person can decide to have the services of one or the other or both or neither.

Pine Tree Hospice is one of just 49 volunteer hospices left in America. Because we have an aging population here in central Maine, we are seeing a significant increase in utilization of our services. The number of families we serve has doubled in the past three years, but unfortunately, the number of volunteers has not. This has made it increasingly difficult to meet the needs of the 39 towns we serve. Now would be a good time to consider helping your friends and neighbors as we carry out our byline of “We can’t add days to your life but we can add life to your days.”

Being a hospice volunteer is one of the most enriching experiences I have had. It is more about living than dying. I have learned so much from my clients and their families. I have gained a bigger perspective of life. I used to think, “I could never do that!” But I can, and maybe you can, too!

The need for Pine Tree Hospice direct care volunteers who are willing to provide companionship, to serve clients and their families in a variety of ways, and to be a caring presence in their lives has never been greater. Consider participating in our next volunteer training, which begins September 8th .

Please call 564-4346 or email wecare@pinetreehospice for more information and to register.

Readers are invited to offer feedback about this column and to suggest topics for future articles. You may do so by contacting Lesley Fernow at (207) 992-6822 and lmfernow@rcn.com.