Pikes Peak Hospice & Palliative Care answers Is there anything I can do? – Hospice Volunteers Make a Difference from SENIOR Magazine

Colorado Springs SENIOR Magazine

Is there anything I can do? – Hospice Volunteers Make a Difference

By: Pikes Peak Hospice & Palliative Care

The roots of hospice care in America are grounded in the dedicated work of volunteers who sought to provide a more compassionate, dignified experience for the dying. As the hospice movement grew, the use of paid staff members became more prevalent. However, the volunteer component remained and flourished. In fact, Medicare requires that a minimum of five percent of hospice patient care hours be provided by trained volunteers.

Today there are more than 400,000 hospice volunteers in the United States who play a vital role in more than 4,200 hospice care programs. Their presence, either being with patients and their loved ones directly or working behind the scenes in offices, enhances the success of hospice care.

Volunteer opportunities may vary from one provider to the other, but all of them matter. Here are a few ways to serve:

Patient Care Volunteers

Volunteers support patients and families in their homes by helping with meals, running errands, doing chores around the house or spending time visiting. Volunteers in long-term care and assisted living facilities help with errands, visiting with and reading to patients, and supporting the staff. Volunteers in hospice inpatient facilities spend quality time with patients and families and assist staff in routine patient care.

Complementary Therapies Volunteers

Some hospice providers offer a variety of complementary therapies. Volunteers contribute in numerous ways to complement traditional patient care. Medical research has demonstrated that complementary therapies can be instrumental in relieving stress, decreasing pain, and adding quality of life to one’s remaining days. All therapies are administered by licensed professionals and specially trained volunteers. Some examples are:

Touch therapies which incorporate massage, aromatherapy and other types of touch modalities to enhance patient comfort.

Pet therapy provides interaction with trained or therapy-screened animals to calm or lift spirits.

Music Therapy offers the gift of music to soothe, inspire, and bring joy to patients, families and friends.

Other unique integrative therapies may also be offered, including acupuncture, creative expression, and guided imagery, to name a few.

Bereavement Volunteers

Families are offered grief support for a 13-month period after the death of a loved one. Bereavement volunteers help provide emotional support to grieving family members with phone calls and one-on-one visits.

Administrative Volunteers

Volunteers assist office staff with critical administrative assignments, and assist with community outreach, fundraising and other special projects.

You may wonder if hospice work is right for you. Volunteers need to feel comfortable and supported in their role, so ask about what kind of training you could receive. Topics should include patient care, communication, family dynamics, the dying process and bereavement, along with specialized training for your specific job description.

President and CEO of Pikes Peak Hospice & Palliative Care, Martha Barton lauds the value of volunteers in hospice. “One of the great joys of this work is seeing so many give so much. Each day our care teams are joined by volunteers who step with grace and compassion into the lives of patients and families in need. The gift of their time and their touch can make all the difference.”

Most hospice volunteers say they get far more than they give. They have the satisfaction of knowing that the work they do, indeed, makes a difference. And they have opportunities to be with very special people at an incredibly unique time of life.

To learn how you can offer your support to Pikes Peak Hospice patients and their families, contact us at (719) 633-3400. For more information about Pikes Peak Hospice & Palliative Care, visit us at www.pikespeakhospice.org.