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What Does A Hospice Volunteer Look Like?

Issue 42.13

Just look in the mirror and you will see a potential hospice volunteer.  Our volunteers come from all walks of life and bring different strengths and assets with them to our program.  They all enter our front door with purpose and an undefined sense of wanting to help, many not knowing exactly what hospice does or how they can be of assistance.  Most hospice volunteers have been touched personally by the death of a family member or friend and realize hospice in someway helped make the journey easier, or some simply have heard about hospice through reading or watching a movie and now want to make someone’s end of life journey less lonely.

Simply put, that is what our volunteers do.  They don’t help a patient die, rather they enable a person who is living experience their final days of life with dignity and worthiness while offering an outstretched hand of friendship and companionship.  At Zion’s Way we have people who give time out of their busy schedules simply to read a story to a patient who can no longer see or run an errand for those who can’t drive.  Some put musical talents to use and perform for a client and their family while others prescribe to the old fashioned remedy of just listening to a patient randomly reminisce, sharing laughter and sometimes tears.  Volunteers are essential to the two major focal points of our hospice care at this pivotal point in a person’s life. The first is to make our clients as comfortable as possible and the second is to improve quality of life as we journey together to discover what that personally is for each of them.

Margaret Meade once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”  Our volunteers at Zion’s Way change the world for those people they touch each and every day.  So go look in the mirror!  You might just see a future Zion’s Way Hospice volunteer.   

If you would like to learn more about becoming a hospice volunteer contact Jim Dowd or simply speak to any of our team members at Zion’s Way Home Health and Hospice (435-688-0648).

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