VNA & Hospice to provide training for volunteers

BENNINGTON  - At the VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region, volunteers play a critical role in enhancing the end-of-life experiences of people facing serious illness and their families. Volunteers represent all life experiences and are drawn to hospice for a variety of reasons but the defining characteristics that unite them are compassion and the desire to help others. Their many skills are matched to important tasks within its mission.
VNAHSR will provide training for those interested in becoming hospice volunteers. Training will be held on Friday, March 25,  from 8 am to 4 pm. Training is free and open to individuals 16 years of age and older. Volunteers need to pass a background check. No previous hospice and health care experience is required. Preregistration, proof of COVID-19 vaccination, and mask wearing during training are required. Once training is complete, assignments and schedules are tailored to the volunteer’s geographic and time commitment preferences.
Training topics include understanding the hospice philosophy of care, knowing boundaries when interacting with patients and families, communicating with patients and families, understanding basic health and safety precautions, and understanding patient confidentiality
While volunteers make a tremendous impact on the lives of patients, families, and staff, VNAHSR hears time and again that they too benefit from their hospice experiences. Among the things they mention are increased appreciation for living life in the moment and defining what is really important, greater knowledge and more inner peace about the end-of-life experience, greater insight about diversity and the different perspectives among cultures, and heightened sense of fulfillment and pride because of their contributions to patients, families, and VNAHSR.
For more information or to register call Mary at (802) 442-0540 or email mary.pleasant@vnahsr.org.