Originally published in the Lincoln Tribune, May 13, 2008
Q: One of the ladies in my church just became a hospice volunteer. What do volunteers actually do?
A: Volunteers support the patient and family on a personal level — spending time with the patient, helping with small tasks, or "just being there." In the same way the nurses, doctors, and CNA's provide medical care or the chaplains provide spiritual guidance, volunteers provide much-needed social interaction at a time when patients may feel isolated from others.
The friendship of a volunteer can divert patients from their day-to-day worries. Depending on the day and the mood, volunteers might read aloud, bring DVD's to watch, play music, or just spend time chatting with the patient. Some might become pen pals or email pals. Volunteers are often matched to patients who have similar interests or backgrounds; for example, your church friend might be matched with someone of the same faith, or someone who shares her hobbies.
Volunteers also give valuable relief to caregivers. Anyone who has gone through a loved one's health crisis knows how valuable a little help can be—and how hard it sometimes is to come by. The one hour that the volunteer sits with the patient might allow a caregiver to pick up prescriptions, go grocery shopping, head to a parent-teacher conference, or just have a relaxing dinner or cup of coffee. Many families I have worked with have found their volunteers to be an invaluable part of their loved one's care team.
Also, few people realize that hospices are required to have volunteers in order to attain Medicare reimbursement. A minimum of five percent of total hours worked each year must come from volunteers. Without volunteers, hospices would be unable to operate. They are indeed at the heart of hospice work!
If you are interested in being a Patient Care Volunteer, I urge you to contact a hospice today. Visit www.volunteermatch.org to find volunteer opportunities in your area—search the site with a keyword of "hospice" to show what is available at hospices near your home. Or find a nearby hospice via the Carolinas Center for Hospice and End of Life Care's online Hospice Locator at http://www.carolinasendoflifecare.org.
See you next week! Please keep sending me your questions!
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