No Veteran Dies Alone Program Volunteer Companion

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N o Veteran Dies Alone (NVDA) is a volunteer program that provides the reassuring presence of a volunteer companion to patients with end stage diseases. With the support of nursing staff, No Veteran Dies Alone volunteers are able to help provide patients with the valuable human gifts of their presence. They help improve Veterans quality of life often times by helping Veterans live their lives to the fullest. No Veteran Dies Alone volunteers may provide their presence to seriously ill patients who have neither family nor close friends to be with them or they may provide respite to the family members of seriously ill Veterans by sitting with the Veteran while their loved ones go to an appointment or just take a break.

Who May Help

A ll VA employees, volunteers and the community are invited to be considered for the No Veteran Dies Alone program. As a NVDA volunteer, you choose the time, day, and number of hours that you would be available to volunteer. Nursing skills are not necessary to participate in the program. All volunteers must attend a training session where they will learn the simple art of being compassionately present at the bedside of a seriously ill Veteran. Companions should be willing to hold the hand of the Veteran, play music, read to the Veteran and fluff pillows. Even nurses who volunteer for the No Veteran Dies Alone will not provide actual nursing care while volunteering, but will assist only as a companion.

Getting started sign up, please contact the Voluntary Service Office at 254-297-3597. Tell them you would like to be a part of the No Veteran Dies Alone team. You will be given information on how to join the team of available volunteers.

This includes:

 Interview

 Fingerprinting/Background Investigation

 General Orientation and Privacy Training

 Participating in a No Veteran Dies Alone training session.