Hospice Information please

[crazyme5kids]

Does anyone work or volunteer at a hospice? I have been thinking about voluteering at one, but want to get as much information about what it would be like before I make a decission. I have to get ready for work, but will check back in tonight. Thanks.

 

[Dan Murphy]

 

[roseprincess]

I don't know how much I can help, but the only experience I have had working at a hospice was a 1-day shift at a local hospital. I worked on a hospice unit 1 night on graveyard shift, thru a nursing agency I briefly worked at. What I remember that night was I was the only RN on the unit at the time and I had to do a blood transfusion that night.
The other experience with hospice was when I was working at nursing homes as a staff RN on skilled/medicare units. The hospice nurse would come in from a hospice agency and they would do the wound treatment care for that patient. When one of their patients died, they have to wash up the body, take care of the patient's bodily fluids, change the sheets on the bed, contact family members, be there for emotional support for the family members, call the funeral home.
Around where I live, hospice RN's take care of the majority of their patients they are assigned to. The hospice agencies around here have day shift, pm shift, and graveyard shift for the nurses. Also, these same nurses are on- call during the night if their patient has died and may have to go in to the facility to help out.

You may want to call a couple of hospice places (agencies) in your area and get info on volunteering- maybe a companion to a patient -type thing. Here, in Illinois, you have to be certified for that and get some training, like a nurse's aide training. I hope this helps.


Rosemarie

 

[crazyme5kids]

Thanks for the reply. I'm not a nurse, so I obviously wouldn't be able to do any type of patient care. I'm hoping to get some more info and opinions before I make any calls.

 

[Otimon]

I used to work for the Connecticut Hospice many years ago when it first began. At that time the facility hadn't been built yet and just consisted of the Home Care Dept. located in a big old home in New Haven.

One thing I remember was that everyone who worked there, from the Medical Director to the person who took care of the cleaning, was expected to have patient contact. I was the Home Çare secretary and often went out with one of the nurses, or on my own, to visit a patient in their home. Sometimes I sat with the patient while the family member took a break or made myself useful doing dishes in the kitchen. Always stopped at a florist on the way and took a single red rose with me for the patient. Also did some of their research for them by visiting the next of kin after a death occurred to find out what they thought about Hospice services.

I think you'll find it one of the most rewarding places you could volunteer. I wasn't a nurse either.

Best wishes.

 

[cleo]

I can't speak as someone who has been a Hospice worker but I can speak as someone with experience having Hospice come in for a loved one. Without Hospice I think my beloved Grandmother would have 'held on' longer than she did. They were like a 'permission' to let go, and we were blessed immeasurably by their having touched her life, and in that way having touched ours.

I can't speak to the logistics of making it work for you, but if you're thinking about it, I can tell you for sure you will bring a comfort to families who need a kind hand and a kind word at the most crucial juncture in their lives, as they help a loved one move into the next life. If you can do it, I wish you all the very best in making it happen.



PS: Dan! What's with the pile of smilies? I see you post them a lot but I never can figure out what they're supposed to mean.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Thank you! Is there anyone else that has any experience with hospice? I really want any and all opinions, good and bad.

 

[4cruisin]

We had hospice for apprx 3 weeks during my mom's illness. They were absolutely wonderful. There was a whole team including a nurse, a home health aide, spritual advisor etc. They took such wonderful care of my mom and worked with my dsis and me to help us get through our emotions. They stayed in contact with me for a year after my mom's death. I cannot say enough good things about the treatment we received. I hope you find your experience as a volunteer rewarding. The people there definetly believed in what they were doing.

 

[Fire14]

My experience with hospice volunteers is:

They would come and vist with pt's for maybe 30min-hr twice a week and just talk with pt, read to pt, just be someone there with them possibly holding a hand etc.
In hospices I have experience with volunteers could not do pt care of any kind.

 

[mickey4ver]

I did direct service volunteering, and it is a very rewarding experience. I did a variety of things as a ds volunteer...anything to help the patient and family in any way I could.

I only gave it up as I went back to work and just could not keep up the level of involvement that I felt was necessary. You can also volunteer in the office too if you don't think you are cut out for ds work. There usually is a ton of different tasks you can help out with...maybe help with mailings to answering phones.

Hospice was a wonderful help to our family when we needed them, and I wanted to give back..it is super rewarding in every aspect.

 

[zalansky]

I can't speak as someone who has been a Hospice worker but I can speak as someone with experience having Hospice come in for a loved one. Without Hospice I think my beloved Grandmother would have 'held on' longer than she did. They were like a 'permission' to let go, and we were blessed immeasurably by their having touched her life, and in that way having touched ours.

I can't speak to the logistics of making it work for you, but if you're thinking about it, I can tell you for sure you will bring a comfort to families who need a kind hand and a kind word at the most crucial juncture in their lives, as they help a loved one move into the next life. If you can do it, I wish you all the very best in making it happen.

We has the same experience when my mother died. Hospice made a devastating experience a whole lot better. My sister volunteers now with the hospice in her area and I plan on looking into it when my kids get a bit older.

 

[mannasn]

I have not volunteered or worked for a hospice, but I am a nursing student who has spent some clinical time in hospice settings. I think hospice is a WONDERFUL thing, but I'm not certain that I would like to work in that area of nursing.

The volunteers at the local hospices I had experiences with wrote cards, made phone calls, sat with or read to patients and families, made crafts to send to patients, ran errands, etc.

I would think that the volunteer coordinator at any hospice would be glad to talk with you about the details involved in volunteering for their organization, without any pressure or commitments.

Good luck!