100 Mile District Hospice Palliative Care Society is celebrating 30 years of serving the community and is in the process of recruiting volunteers.
"We are a non-profit society that provides trained volunteers to offer social, emotional and spiritual support to people living with or dying from an advanced illness as well as offering support to those that love them," says Hospice program director Tracy Haddow.
She adds Hospice volunteers:
• are compassionate people who are committed to the Hospice philosophy;
• offer comfort and support to the individuals living with life-threatening illness and their loved ones, while respecting their beliefs, values and privacy;
• provide companionship, respite and support through illness, death and the bereavement period; and
• work with palliative care clients and their loved ones in their own homes, in acute care units or in residential care facilities.
Haddow says they are looking for both male and female volunteers.
"It's great training and it's a long-standing wonderful service we have in the community. We are looking to expand our service in the community and the knowledge of what it is that we have to offer."
The course sessions include: communication skills, psychosocial issues, physical processes of dying, pain and symptom management, spirituality, family centred care, funeral and legal issues, and grief and self-care for Hospice volunteers.
Training is provided by the society staff, Hospice volunteers and guest speakers.
Folks who are interested are asked to register with at 250-395-7680 by Aug. 20 to set up a meeting with Haddow.
Volunteer training will be held Sept. 12-13 and 20-21 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Attendance is required for all four days of training.
Fee for the course is $65. This includes $60 to cover materials and $5 for a one year membership in the Hospice Society.
The $60 will be refunded, upon request, to trainees who successfully complete the course and complete 20 hours of volunteer work within six months.
For more information, contact Haddow at 250-395-7680.