Volunteer commitment is four hours per week for one year
VANCOUVER — PeaceHealth Hospice is seeking volunteers to work with patients and families to provide important hospice services including respite care, and to volunteer at the Ray Hickey Hospice House. Respite care volunteers provide short-term relief for primary caregivers.
The volunteer commitment is four hours per week for one year. Training for this volunteer activity is scheduled for:
When: Oct. 1, 2018 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: The training session  will be held at PeaceHealth Southwest’s Hope Bereavement Center at 5400 MacArthur Blvd., Vancouver. A light lunch and snacks will be provided. The training will include information on important topics including:
- Hospice history
- Policies, laws and regulations
- Emergency situations
- Volunteering
- Cultural competence
- Understanding family dynamics
- Setting boundaries
- Communication and listening skills
- Spiritual caregiving at end of life
- Self-care
- Infection control
- Diseases
- Death and dying
- Understanding grief and loss
No one dies alone
PeaceHealth’s Hospice program is seeking compassionate volunteers to sit with solitary hospice patients during the last hours of their life journey. Our innovative program “No One Dies Alone” (NODA) ensures every one of our hospice patients will pass in the loving presence of another human being. Volunteers are invited to attend the training session on:
When: Friday, Oct. 5.
Where: The training session is scheduled from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Lunch and snacks will be provided. The session will be held at PeaceHealth Southwest’s Hope Bereavement Center at 5400 MacArthur Blvd., Vancouver.
Contact: To register for the training, or if you have questions, contact Colleen Storey at cstorey@peacehealth.org or call (360) 696-5120.
What is the role of a NODA volunteer?
- Advocate for the patient when that person is alone or unable to speak for him/herself
- Provide comfort/support for the patient
- Provide a presence of peace and calm
- Hold patient’s hand, read to the patient, be attentive to patient’s comfort
What is required of a NODA volunteer?
- A caring heart/compassion and willingness to help others
- Active listening skills and comfortability with intense emotions
- Integrity with ability to maintain confidentiality
- Ability to sit for long periods of time
- Patience/dependability
- Ability to be comfortable with death
About the No One Dies Alone program:
NODA is designed for patients who are on comfort care and are expected to pass within 24-48 hours. Vigil shifts for volunteers are four hours long, and volunteers are contacted on an as-needed basis.
Other volunteer opportunities
Additionally, hospice volunteers who will work directly with patients are asked to attend “Patient Care Training” on:
When: Mon., Oct. 8 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: PeaceHealth Hope Bereavement Services
5400 MacArthur Blvd., Vancouver, WA 98661
For information or to RSVP please call (360) 696-5069 or email ahansen@peacehealth.org
About PeaceHealth Hope Bereavement Services
Hope Bereavement Services is a program of PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, providing emotional support and information for healing. We offer bereavement support groups and counseling to members of our community, including individuals, families and children.
About PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center
The region’s health care leader and steward for 155 years, PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center is a community-owned, not-for-profit, 450-bed, medical institution located in Vancouver, Washington. Repeatedly recognized nationally as a 100 Top Hospital, PeaceHealth Southwest provides a full range of outpatient and inpatient diagnostic, medical, and surgical services to Clark County residents. PeaceHealth Southwest is also one of Clark County’s largest employers with 3,400 employees and 600 active medical staff members that help support dozens of medical specialty services and programs, including cancer, heart, emergency, trauma, neuro-musculoskeletal, family birth, and primary care. For more information visit http://www.peacehealth.org/southwest.
