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Hospice volunteers come in all shapes and sizes

In so many things in life, one size doesn’t fit all. The same holds true for a hospice volunteer. The need for volunteers in hospice is great, and the types of work are virtually limitless.

“Each year, we rely on nearly 1,000 volunteers to support our hospice and palliative care programs across the state,” Catherine Klemish, director of volunteer services at Hospice of Michigan, said. “The opportunities to serve are as many and varied as those who volunteer their time and talents.

“We work to match the skills of our volunteers with the needs of patients and families. Whether you have one hour a week or 10 to volunteer, you can make a real difference by providing companionship visits or caregiver relief. Our volunteers create cards for special occasions, sew Memory Bears, capture patient stories – we even have one volunteer Santa Claus who makes year-round visits to our pediatric program.

“All it takes is a willing heart and a few hours to spare.”

Klemish highlighted three standout volunteers who have made a difference in end-of-life care for Hospice of Michigan.

* The Caretaker: Teresa Rohloff has helped nearly 300 families since she began volunteering for HOM 18 years ago. Recognizing that time may be short, Rohloff always goes out of her way to make sure those she works with are happy by taking time to share little joys, such as the time she was asked to care for a woman overnight.

“Before going to the family’s home, I asked several questions to learn more about the woman I’d be helping. I found out her favorite food was ham and pineapple pizza – I searched far and wide for a pizza like this and brought it with me to their home. When the woman woke up in the middle of the night and wanted something to eat, instead of finding something ordinary from the kitchen, we were able to share one of her favorite foods. We both had a lot of fun.”

* The Pet Lover: When Amy Hansen attended an HOM volunteer meeting and learned there was a need for therapy animals, she was eager to help. She opted to certify her pet cat, Cricket, as a registered pet therapy animal. The pair now make one-on-one visits with HOM patients in assisted living facilities, where Cricket is often greeted joyfully by patients who find themselves missing their own kitties.

As an HOM volunteer, Hansen has gone through training courses that help her talk with patients and make them feel comfortable – something that can be challenging. Hansen noted that Cricket made this process easier for her and the patients with whom she visits.

“There can be a lot of sadness and stress in hospice care not just for the patient, but for the family and facility staff,” Hansen said. “Cricket can help relieve that stress and bring out feelings of happiness, which allows patients to open up to me. With Cricket’s help, I get a lot of stories and smiles.”

* The Business Professional: A retired Realtor and previous English and literature teacher, Cyn Flynn put her business skills to use in an unusual way: Helping a patient with ALS realize his dream by editing and publishing a book he had written on leadership and business management.

Flynn met with the patient three days a week for two hours. She helped proofread the book and republish it and even helped to create an e-book version. When the book came back from the publisher, Flynn helped the patient autograph copies and send to friends and former colleagues.

“Hospice is about living a quality life at the end of life,” Flynn said. “I’m always honored when I can help a patient and their family.”

Klemish said prospective volunteers go through a training course during which they learn more about HOM, the principles of hospice, the grieving process and how to help patients, their families and HOM staff.

“The best volunteers have a passion for helping others and for our mission,” Klemish said. “And regardless of the role they play, most volunteers tell us they get more from the experience than they give.”

If you would like to learn more about volunteer opportunities at Hospice of Michigan or to sign up as a volunteer, visit www.hom.org/get-involved/.

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