Hospice is a special way of caring for the terminally ill and their caregivers. Focusing on the whole person and not the disease, Hospice strives to take care of the patient's physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs, as well as the needs of the family. Hospice takes a team approach with each member of the team, offering a specific set of skills.
Volunteers are an integral part of the hospice program. Each volunteer is specially trained in the hospice philosophy, goals and areas of care that are consistent with the tasks they perform. Services include:
· Reading to patients
· Visiting patients
· Running errands
· Spiritual support
· Respite care
· Office tasks
Hospice is a very different area of Healthcare and not a comfortable or suitable fit for everyone, especially if you’ve lost someone in the last year, but can be very rewarding for the patient, caregiver, family, and volunteer.