A Warm Welcome!
Gaston Hospice welcomes thirteen new volunteers to the Gaston Hospice family who completed volunteer training in May. New volunteers are:
Essraa Bayoumi
Denton Benfield
Joan Drayton-Coffey
Joan Cunningham
Lisa Ellis
Rodia Ellis
Donald Jewell
Martha Jones
Dawn Kirsh
Ali Mauney
Lisa Parler
Taryn Starnes
Volunteer Opportunites
While Gaston Hospice offers a total system of care provided by physicians, nurses, certified nursing assistants, social workers, counselors, chaplains and other professionals, we recognize that belonging to an extended, caring community is vital to the well-being of our patients and their families. This takes individuals with many talents and time to share of themselves coming together as volunteers.
There are several different ways for individuals to volunteer for Gaston Hospice. Volunteers are used as family support volunteers, office volunteers, professional volunteers, special events volunteers, bereavement volunteers and volunteer chaplains. All volunteers, except for office volunteers and special events volunteers, must attend a 12-hour volunteer training class. Bereavement volunteers and volunteer chaplains receive additional training after completing the initial training class.
The next training class will be spring 2010. Contact Jennifer Jones, Volunteer Coordinator at jonesjc@caromonthealth.org. Watch Volunteer Classifieds below for additional opportunities.
Family Support Volunteers
Family Support Volunteers may be asked to run errands for their patient, help with light houskeeping tasks or most often simply provide companionship in the home. Hours are flexible and may be be worked out by the volunteer and family involved. These volunteers are generally assigned to a patient within their zip code area, so that they do not have to travel from one end of Gaston County to another. Family Support Volunteers receive 12 hours of comprehensive training on such topics as:
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Hospice philosophy and concepts of care
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Physiological, psychological and spiritual aspects of terminal illness
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Symptom management
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Family dynamics and coping
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Emergency procedures, safety issues
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Confidentiality and patient rights
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Procedure for death occurring in the home
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Grief and bereavement
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Documentation and recordkeeping
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Universal precautions
Office Volunteers
work with Gaston Hospice staff completing tasks such as filing, answering the phone, bulk mail preparation, data entry, shredding, telephone calls and more.
Professional Volunteers
are people who are willing to share their talents with patients in need on an individual basis. Some examples may be a carpenter who is willing to build a wheelchair ramp for a patient or a hairdresser who will visit a patient in their home.
Special Events Volunteers
offer their own unique services for special events such as fundraising or community awareness events like health fairs.
Bereavement Volunteers
contact hospice families after the patient's death. Telephone calls are made from the volunteer's home once a month to offer emotional support to the family members. Bereavement volunteers must complete family support training as well as additional bereavement training.
Volunteer Chaplains
are spiritually sensitive lay men and women, as well as licensed and ordained clergy, who serve by helping patients and their families find hope in the face of apparently "hopeless" circumstances. Training is provided, as is continuing support of volunteers who serve in this capacity. Contact Chaplain David Herbertson at Gaston Hospice if you are interested in giving your time as a chaplain.
Family Support Volunteer Training
Schedule
If you are you tired of volunteer work that seems unfulfilling or dull, or would you like to experience rewarding one-on-one time with someone who needs your company, you may be interested in becoming a Gaston Hospice volunteer.
Gaston Hospice will hold the next training class for family support volunteers and volunteer chaplains in the spring. Watch this website for dates. Attendees must be able to attend all four sessions. Anyone who is interested in making new friends while helping terminally ill patients and their families should consider coming to the training class. Gaston Hospice volunteers are asked to give their patient approximately two hours each week.
The twelve-hour training class includes information on the hospice mission and philosophy, physical and emotional aspects of death and dying, patient safety and patient rights. If you are ready to make a difference in someone's life by becoming a hospice volunteer, contact Emily Craig, Volunteer Coordinator at (704) 861-8405.
Volunteer Classifieds
Prayer Shawls Needed
The advent of cooler weather brings tomind the need for prayer shawls to be given to Gaston Hospice patients. A prayer shawl is a shawl that isknitted by volunteers with prayers woven into the shawl specifically for the recipient.
Gaston Hospice has been fortunate to have many volunteers contribute to our prayer shawl ministry since 2003. But our ever-increasing census makes it hard for current knitters to meet demand.
Emily Craig, volunteer coordinator, keeps the pattern for the shawls as well as some donated yarn in the volunteer office for anyone who might like to try their hand. If you would like to be part of this effort, or donate yarn, please contact Emily Craig at CraigE@gmh.org.
Bereavement Volunteers Needed
Volunteers needed to provide phone calls to families from the Gaston Hospice office for approximately two hours per week. Study materials and training provided. Please contact Terri Ray if interested.
Veterans Needed
Military veterans needed to visit with veteran patients. Time required varies depending on the need of the patient, but would probably be no more than one hour per week.
Tuck-In Volunteers Needed
Volunteers needed to make short phone calls from home to newly admitted hospice patients. This requires no additional training. Approximate time required would be one or two hours per week.
Office Volunteers Needed
We need someone to staple, fold and affix mailing labels to monthly volunteer newsletter. Time required will vary, but should be no more than two hours per month.
The Sweetest Volunteers and Cake Baking Team Needed
Group of volunteers needed to bake cakes or make a dessert for patients and their families. This would be an ideal opportunity for a church group or ladies' group. We would ideally like two cakes per week from the group. Cakes would be delivered to the Gaston Hospice office at Water Tower Place.
TLC Volunteers Needed
These volunteers will work with a hospice social worker at Gaston Memorial Hospital to visit hospital-bound hospice patients and their families. Approximate time required would be one or two hours per week.
Anyone interested in either of these volunteer opportunities, please call the Gaston Hospice office and speak with Emily Craig, Volunteer Coordinator.
Want More information?
To find out more about volunteering or about donating to Gaston Hospice, stop by our office or call us at (704) 861-8405. Fax: 704.865.0590
The office hours for Gaston Hospice are 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. There is a nurse on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week for our patients.