This year Hospice of Huntington celebrates its 26th year serving our community. To date we have provided compassionate care for over 11,000 terminally ill people and provided support to their families. However, even though that number is impressive, they are, after all just numbers. Numbers alone mean nothing. Our goal is to provide compassionate physical, emotional and spiritual care to the terminally ill and continuing support for the families.
However, we need your help in one very important area – volunteers. Patient care volunteers play a crucial role in Hospice. They relieve a tired caregiver and become a companion to the patient. Today’s families are smaller and more scattered, and help is hard to come by for many. Volunteers help fill in the caregiving gaps so people with a terminal illness can spend their days at home. Hospice will offer patient care training May 12, 13, and 14 from 9:00 am – 4:30 pm at our downtown office located at 1101 6th Avenue
Behind each number lies a face . . . Robert an 86 -year -old man suffering from coronary heart failure; Olivia, a 44 year old woman living with terminal breast cancer, while raising her two young daughters; Woody, a 53 -year -old man living with end-stage lung disease and whose deepest desire is to be able to go to church services for as long as possible. Illness can ravage the body and fill families with anxiety and fatigue. Hospice of Huntington, Inc. has been there to support these individuals and give them a quality life – even while living with a terminal illness. Some patients are able to continue their daily routines.
Meanwhile, the elderly couple across the street still needs help going to the grocery store. Robert’s daughter has to go to work and she worries that he becomes lonely. Olivia is still well enough to go to her daughter’s play, but needs someone to take her. The tired daughter, who works full time and takes care of her mother at night, needs a break during the day to feel normal again and spend time with her husband. And Woody, why, he would just like some good old-fashioned prayer and fellowship.
It is every American’s right to have a quality end of life. The hospice medical team consists of our medical director, nurse, social worker, certified home health aide and a trained volunteer, clergy and professional bereavement counseling. Hospice provides care for you at home so you don’t have to make repeated trips to the physician’s office or emergency room.
The greatest gift you can offer is your time, your caring nature, and your willingness to give of yourself. Volunteering with hospice is a great way to learn new skills and find enrichment in your life.
Patient care volunteers experience feelings of satisfaction from making a difference in people’s lives and in turn develop a great insights into their own lives. Plus, you can set your own level of commitment based on your available time.
Join our team and register for volunteer training May 12, 13, 14 from 9 am – 4:30 pm at our downtown office located at 1101 6th Avenue in Huntington. Come on, explore what you can do and take the classes. To find out more, please call Lisa Floyd, Director of Volunteer Services at (304) 529-4217 or 1-800-788-5480 you may also e-mail your registration to lfloyd@hospiceofhuntington.org Go ahead, pick up the phone.
**Al patient names have been changed to protect their confidentiality.
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