Hospice Family Caregivers: Walking Alongside on Life's Final Journey
Hospice helps families cope with what people fear most about dying - being in pain, being alone, losing control, and being a burden to others. Hospice doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains and trained volunteers help patients and families with their whole range of needs-physical, emotional, and spiritual.
Because they are such a help to the entire family, we call these patient centered volunteers Family Care Givers. They tell the patient and family, “I’m here because I want to help.”
To make sure our volunteers are well-prepared and confident Hospice of CNY provides extensive training and support. Prospective Family Care Givers complete an 8-session preparation class that covers all issues of Hospice care and the role and responsibilities of the volunteer Family Care Giver.
As volunteers serve their respective patients and families they have many opportunities to meet with other Family Care Givers and the volunteer manager/coordinator for additional education and ongoing support. We make every effort to match the case assignment with your individual needs and preferences.
Who Are Our Hospice Family Caregivers?
Sue is a mother with young children. Pat and Bill are retired people who decided to volunteer as a couple. Jennifer is a police officer. Al is a barber.
As different as our volunteers are from one another, they all share an ability to listen, sensitivity and openness to people, and a desire to help others. Most agree that they get more than they give.
As a Family Caregiver you might:
- Stay with the patient while the primary caregiver runs errands, does some housework, or gets some much-needed rest!
- Fix a light meal, go shopping for groceries, help the patient at meal-time, mow the lawn
- Drive the patient or other members of the family to an appointment, to the mall, to visit their loved one in the nursing home
- Listen as the patient reflects on fond memories and present concerns
- Read aloud and write letters
- Babysit or take children on outings
- Watch TV with the patient, or do the crossword puzzle
True Stories* of Hospice Families and their Helpers
Mrs. Graham loved to knit. But she didn't want to start another baby sweater because she was afraid that poor health would prevent her from finishing it. Her Family Caregiver encouraged her to go ahead and start, promising that if Mrs. Graham couldn't finish the sweater, she would. So far Mrs. Graham has knitted seven more baby sweaters.
Mr. Park lived in a long-term care facility. If someone helped him at mealtime, he managed to eat more. So two Hospice Family Caregivers took turns visiting him at lunch time. They did more than just help him to eat. They made him feel that people cared about him.
Mrs. Jones was glad she could care for her 92-year-old mother at home. But she knew she needed a break, too. Each week Sharon, a Hospice volunteer, came to stay with her mother while Mrs. Jones went shopping. "Sharon has become like a friend of the family," Mrs. Jones said.
*Names have been changed for confidentiality.
To learn more about volunteering for Hospice of Central New York, call (315) 634-1100, or send an e-mail message to Susan Conover sconover@hospicecny.org or Michele Devlin mdevlin@hospicecny.org. Download a volunteer application.
Hospice Auxiliary
The auxiliary is an organization of men and women dedicated to promoting the hospice concept through community education and fund-raising. It provides opportunities for people to support Hospice in ways other than patient contact.
The Hospice Auxiliary:
- donates gifts to patients, such as booties, lap robes, and comfort pillows
- arranges for floral deliveries to patients
- hosts receptions for families at Hospice memorial services
- organizes educational programs featuring guest speakers
- raises funds to promote end-of-life and bereavement care
