Our Volunteers

HOW CAN A HOSPICE VOLUNTEER HELP?

Our volunteers are men and women of this community who are willing to give a few hours a week to visit clients in homes, hospital, long term care facilities and Ty Watson House.  They are carefully screened and trained to provide services tailored to individual needs.  Volunteers are special people who are able to support others in a knowledgeable, compassionate and confidential manner. All volunteers are accountable to meet defined norms of conduct and practice.

Volunteers companion clients and families on their journey by:

• providing emotional and spiritual support through illness, death and bereavement
• listening without judgement and helping to reduce fear and anxiety
• providing an opportunity to talk about "what matters", life's journey, and  to reminisce
• providing an opportunity to talk about grief and loss caused by illness or death
• providing practical assistance (reading, writing letters, running errands, outings, etc.)
• staying with a loved one so family caregivers can take a much needed break
• providing and discussing helpful information related to caregiving, end-of-life, dying and bereavement
• acting as an advocate to ensure the client's needs are being met
• assiting families to sit vigil at the bedside of a loved one at the end of life

HOW TO BECOME A HOSPICE VOLUNTEER;

If you have the interest in working with people at end of life you will need to take our comprehensive, forty hour training program and have a criminal record check.

If you have other special skills, or can you offer a service that would benefit the people of hospice, we are also looking for you. A criminal record check is required. There is no cost involved for the record checks for volunteers. 

Call Theresa @ 723-4478 or email: theresa@albernihospice.ca for more information.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world.
Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead (1901-1978)