Palliative Care Volunteers Wanted
18 February 2011
Hunter New England Local Health Network is looking for compassionate and understanding people to be palliative care volunteers across the Lower Mid North Coast.
The Lower Mid North Coast Palliative Care Volunteer Support Program is holding an information session at Hallidays Point Library on 2 March 2011 from 1:30pm to 3:30pm for people who may be interested in becoming a volunteer.
HNE Health Palliative Care Program Coordinator Karen Rudge said volunteers play an important role in the care of palliative care patients.
“Volunteers provide practical help, companionship and emotional support to patients of the palliative care service and their families and carers,” Ms Rudge said.
“We often have people wanting to volunteer who have had some past experience with a friend or relative being looked after in palliative care but certainly anyone who is interested in volunteering should come along to the information session.
“The session will give people a chance to find out exactly what is involved in being a palliative care volunteer and to have a chat with the current volunteer team.
“While volunteers do not provide nursing or personal care to the patient they may do things such as giving a patient’s home carer a break by providing companionship to the patient or helping to run errands or providing transport for the patient to and from treatment.”
HNE Health requires volunteers to attend a 40-hour training course which provides background and hones the skills required for new volunteers. The next training course commences in May 2011 and will be every Thursday for eight weeks.
“Volunteering is a very rewarding experience and patients have told of getting great enjoyment from simply having a cup of tea and a chat with a volunteer,” Ms Rudge said.
“The palliative care volunteers sometimes give the patients hand massages which are very soothing and we have found that the gentle, passive movement can have a profound effect on the patients’ mood.
“We are interested in people who can offer a little or a lot of their time to volunteer. I encourage anyone who may be interested in volunteering to come along to the information session.”
Contact: Janelle Kelly
Phone: 4939 2602