Community volunteers are critically needed to provide in-home companionship and respite care to hospice patients in Santa Barbara, according to Central Coast Hospice.
“Volunteers are an important part of the hospice team,” the organization said. “They provide supervision to patients while their family caregivers take a break or run errands, assist with light household tasks, provide emotional support and socialization, and help with miscellaneous, yet important tasks, like organizing family photos or helping the patient write letters to their loved ones.”
No prior experience is necessary. Potential volunteers just have to have an interest in helping others, a caring nature, and able to participate in a training program prior to beginning their volunteer experience.
Current and past volunteers have said they received much more from volunteering than they feel like they gave. Volunteers said they have learned more about themselves, their own families, and their own feelings about death, as well as the beauty of life, in the process.
Central Coast Hospice will be offering free volunteer training in Santa Barbara and is hoping to recruit potential volunteers willing to serve.
Training will be held 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on three consecutive Fridays, June 13, 20 and 27. Hospice will provide snacks and lunch, as well as a binder of training materials.
The training will include such topics as: the history of hospice, its philosophy and mission; how hospice addresses the needs of the patient and family; the role of various hospice clinician team members; family dynamics and communication skills; dementia; grief and loss; and the role of the volunteer.
Multiple presenters, videos and examples will be given to convey the material.
Pre-registration and interview are required.
For more information or to apply for the program, call Central Coast Hospice, 805-540-6020 and ask to speak with the volunteer coordinator; or e-mail to info@cchh08.com.