Hospice Volunteer Training

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Volunteer in your community and set your own schedule! JourneyCare is looking for volunteers to 1) visit patients in their homes (private residences and/or senior living communities) or 2) serve at one of our two Hospice Centers (Barrington, Woodstock).

A Care Companion is simply a friend who visits (on a routine or occasional basis) with someone receiving hospice care. The provide companionship, emotional support, and, above all, offer a presence, an ear to listen to stories and an understanding smile. You do not provide hands on medical care--you're just a friend because often our patients can feel lonely and isolated!

Care Companions also provide respite support so tired, stressed caregivers can take a much-needed break. JourneyCare supports pediatric patients as well and also needs volunteers who can support those families, perhaps by spending time with the patient's siblings.

Alternately, at our Hospice Center we have several unique roles:

• CNA Assist Volunteers are paired with a Certified Nursing Assistant and help with a patient's "activities of daily living," such as feeding, bathing, changing linens, etc. Additional training is provided.
• Hospitality Volunteers assist with clerical tasks at the nurses' desk, such as answering phones and call lights, faxing important documents, providing tours of the hospice unit, and so on.
• Care Companions visit with patients and families and provide an extra layer of support through simple conversation, playing a game, watching television, etc. They also help with re-stocking and other light duties around the unit.
• Activity Volunteers use their unique gifts (e.g., musicians or massage therapists) to support patients and families.

JourneyCare's service area includes 10 counties and we are in great need of volunteers in the Lombard area (DuPage County, Western Suburbs). Please join us at our volunteer orientation in Lombard to learn more!

We will cover the following: Hospice 101, Overview of JourneyCare, Our Services & How You Can Help, Customer Service, Patients' Rights/HIPAA, and Infection Control. You will also have an opportunity to hear from and ask questions of a panel of current JourneyCare Volunteers. After the training we also require some online courses, which will help you to feel more prepared for this role.

Please fill out our volunteer application and register for this class here: http://journeycare.org/volunteer/apply-volunteer/