Volunteering With Hospice

at 11:55AM, 1:55PM, and 3:55PM

When a friend or loved one is terminally ill, you want to make sure they are comfortable and at peace. Hospice organizations can help immeasurably with the transition from life to death, by helping both the patient and his or her caregivers. Join Suzanne today as she meets with a family that is dealing with a terminally ill member and using Hospice services, including a hospice volunteer.

According to guest Pat Concannon, Volunteer Coordinator for the Wissahickon Hospice in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, hospice is a method of care, not a physical place (though you can be in a nursing home or other facility and still use hospice). The goal is to allow people to pass away in the comfort of familiar surrounding and loved ones.

The hospice team consists of the patient's primary care physician, a nurse, a social worker, a spiritual counselor, home health aids, and volunteers. Volunteers get about 16 hours of training, and help both patient and caregivers.

Inez Cook is a hospice volunteer helping caregiver Naomi Strange take care of her dying niece, Maude Pinkett. Inez helps with chores around the house, gives Maude lunch, and gives Naomi a break when she needs one. According to Naomi, the hospice care that she receives from Inez and the rest of the team has made all the difference in this difficult time.

We thank the Wissahickon Hospice, and Naomi and Maude for letting us come into their homes and share this time with us. We hope it give you some much needed information.