Hospice seeks volunteers two hours a week
Volunteers spend an average of two hours per week with a patient or family and can do a number of things to help. They can sit with the patient, read to them, help with odd jobs, and assist with care in some cases.
Most volunteers say they receive more benefits than they give.
To do this type of work, a volunteer must go through 15 hours of training over a four-week period. During the training, volunteers learn about the four facets of hospice care: the nursing program, chaplain service, social worker’s responsibilities, and the volunteer’s role in helping care for the terminally ill patient. In addition, they develop communication techniques for dealing with dying patients and their families.
Lazarus House Hospice serves 15 counties in the Upper Cumberland area, and has an office in Warren County.
Medicare requires hospices to provide 5 percent of their patient-care activities from volunteers. Last year, Lazarus House Hospice volunteers provided almost 5,000 hours of “care time” to patients and their families.
Lazarus House Hospice is currently taking applications for volunteer training classes. Classes will be held in Cookeville. To receive an application, call Lazarus House Hospice at (931) 520-1705 or (800) 468-4123.