Join Regional Hospice’s Volunteer Team

DANBURY — If you can listen, enjoy being with other people, and want to make an impact on other people’s lives, you will fit right in with Regional Hospice’s volunteer team. Regional Hospice is seeking individuals who are willing to participate in volunteer training and visit with patients and families in Newtown or any of the following other regional communities: Danbury, Bethel, Brookfield, New Fairfield, Redding, Ridgefield, New Milford, and Southbury.

Volunteers are key to the Hospice team approach to care. Spending time with a volunteer often allows patients to forget about their serious medical issues and focus on enjoying activities.

Whether playing cards, watching a baseball game, or looking at family photos, it is meaningful time together.

 “When a volunteer walks in the door it brightens our patients’ days,” said Carolyn Wolfe, the agency’s volunteer director in a release. “It can make such a difference to a family to know that someone will be there for a visit.”

 Regional Hospice’s Family Support Volunteers provide companionship for patients and much-needed respite for caregivers, typically two to four hours a week. These special volunteers are an integral part of Regional Hospice’s multidisciplinary team, providing practical assistance to bring joy to patients and ease the burden of families.

They help by making friendly visits, reading to patients, writing letters, or running errands. The most important gift a volunteer can offer, however, is just being there to listen, share a quiet moment, or lend a strong shoulder for support.

Volunteers receive appropriate training so that they will feel confident walking into patients’ homes, and so that family members will feel comfortable asking for assistance. Regional Hospice’s next Family Support Volunteer Training Program will take place at the agency’s Danbury office on September 20, and 21, from 9 am to 4 pm, and continuing on September 23, 9 am to 1 pm.

The 18-hour curriculum will include an overview of hospice and palliative care, how to be a supportive listener, the importance of respite in healthy caregiving, and an introduction to grief and loss.

With an increasing need for hospice care in greater Danbury, there is a corresponding need for additional family support volunteers, especially bilingual volunteers and massage therapists. Anyone interested in exploring the possibility of becoming a Regional Hospice volunteer may contact Ms Wolfe at 203-739-8315 or Carolyn.Wolfe@danhosp.org; or Maureen Decker, volunteer coordinator, at 203-739-8316 or Maureen.Decker@danhosp.org.

An application, references, and background check are required along with a prescreening interview. Registration for the training will be accepted through August 27.