Hospice marks volunteer week with training op

"Stepping into a person's life during the dying process is being present as a "guest" in a place of change and transition," says Hassell. "Hospice is rewarding work, but it can also be emotional work. I make sure that our volunteers feel supported as well as valued."

Volunteers begin their commitment with a strong base -- an 18-hour training program that includes a thick notebook of materials, and presentations from a number of Hospice of The Gorge staff: medical director, nurses, social workers and chaplains. The program covers a wide spectrum of end-of-life topics, from safely lifting a patient from bed to understanding dementia. There is no cost to attend the comprehensive training sessions.

Hospice of The Gorge's volunteer program has evolved since the agency's beginnings in the early 1980s, when everything was done by volunteers -- even the nursing. While still a nonprofit organization, nowadays Hospice's professional staff support the family caregivers throughout its seven-county service area in Oregon and Washington.

"No "personal care" is expected of our volunteers who work with patients. It's more of being a companion or friend, and giving the caregiver a break," says Hassell. "Conversation is important -- most is about regular day-to-day things. The volunteers often provide emotional support for caregivers as much as patients."

What most volunteers don't consider is what they receive in return. "We say, "the dying are our best teachers," so it's interesting to hear from experienced volunteers what the lessons are," says Hassell. "Most of them are not flashy, "writing in the sky"-type of lessons. Often patients remind us of how limited our time is, and what to nurture in our own lives and relationships."

Volunteers are asked to spend two to three hours per week with patients. "We're very flexible with schedules," notes Hassell. "Some volunteers are busy at certain times of the year, or traveling out of the area. We can work around that."

Some volunteers prefer to help in the Hood River or The Dalles offices, providing administrative support or medical equipment delivery. Hassell checks in with her volunteers to make sure they remain comfortable with their work, provides "in-service" opportunities and does not hesitate to refer them to one of the Hospice chaplains if they need it. She acknowledges that volunteering with hospice patients is different than helping the community in other areas -- it can be more difficult, but also more profound.

"Volunteering for Hospice of The Gorge helps people realize that death is not just a medical event, but a personal event as well," Hassell says. "Spending time with patients shows volunteers that hospice care is about how you live."