Consider becoming a Hospice Volunteer!
Orange City Area Health System Home Health & Hospice is seeking volunteers to be part of its Hospice program. “There are many ways to become involved with Hospice,” explains Kim Jansma, Orange City Hospice Volunteer Coordinator. “By volunteering you will touch and enrich many lives, including your own.” According to Jansma, some volunteers have the opportunity to make home visits that includes helping with household tasks, caring for children, running errands, playing games, and preparing meals. Other volunteers serve by helping in the office with mailings, filing, and working on various special projects. Finally, there are volunteers trained to work with bereaved families, offering support and encouragement through a very difficult time in their lives. “To help make this experience truly rewarding for both the volunteer and the patient,” explains Jansma, “the Hospice team works with each volunteer to help assess interests and skills before placement with a patient.” Volunteers in Hospice find it personally gratifying, intellectually stimulating, and emotionally meaningful to assist those in need at a critical point in their lives, reports the Hospice Foundation of America. Many of the volunteers are introduced to hospice care through the death of a family member and understand firsthand its value, but nearly 20% of volunteers are new to hospice. If you are interested in learning more about becoming trained for this valuable experience, please call Kim Jansma, social worker/volunteer coordinator, Orange City Home Health and Hospice, at 737-5279. For more information about Hospice, visit ocHealthSystem.org.