Pet companion/Pet Therapy teams to visits hospice clients in care centers

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WesleyLife Hospice is looking to add friendly and compassionate individuals and their registered therapy animal to give the gift of time and presence through visits. Our hospice clients need companionship more than ever after the last few years of so much isolation. Volunteers can touch the hearts of our clients and even change their life - or your own!

Pet companionship is very much needed and enjoyed by our hospice clients. Handlers will need to complete an application, background checks, physical and drug screen, as well as our hospice orientation and education. Pets need to complete a therapy program through Pet Partners, IHABS, Therapy Dogs International, or some other equivalent training and registration.

Opportunities are available in the Wesleylife Communities for Living: Brio in Johnston, Wesley Acres in Des Moines, The Village in Indianola, The Cottages in Pella, Park Centre in Newton, and Edgewater in West Des Moines. Depending on their policies, you may also see our hospice clients in other care centers throughout our coverage area.

Requirements include:

• Volunteer Application
• Background Checks
• Drug Screen and Physical
• 2 Step TB Test (provided at no cost)
• Hospice training
• Dependent Adult Abuse training

WesleyLife Hospice has certain requirements in place when volunteering in person to protect our residents, staff and volunteers during COVID. Screenings and masks are required at minimum.

Interested? You can submit an application at http://bttr.im/m837f . Please contact Diana Ferriss, Volunteer Coordinator, for more information at dferriss@wesleylife.org or 515.229.7366.

Other volunteer opportunities include:

• Companionship visits
• Respite (help give caregivers a break by sitting with their loved one while they run errands - no hands on cares)
• Phone visits
• Sit Vigil
• Veteran to Veteran
• Music
• Bereavement
• Clerical/ office assistance