Casa de la
Luz Hospice is fortunate to have a strong base of amazing volunteers. Many of our volunteers have come to us
because they have experienced hospice care themselves or have heard about the superior
care provided to a co-worker, friend, or neighbor. Most individuals come with a good
understanding of hospice services, although, this is certainly not a
requirement. They simply need to have the heart
to do the work, along with some other important qualities.
Casa volunteers
follow the “Companionship Model.” Companionship
is defined by words such as fellowship, relationship, accompaniment, and “the
state of being with someone.” Our volunteers are trained to “be with” our
patients and families. In a fast paced
and busy world, it can be a challenge to simply “be.”
The
qualities needed in order to provide a superior hospice volunteer experience
for patients and their families are:
An engaged heart – We have one chance to serve our
patients. Simply going through the
motions specifically for one’s personal
needs, like completing a special project or crossing a task off a list, will
not suffice. The heart must truly be
engaged with the sincere and genuine desire to serve others.
Flexibility – Things happen quickly on hospice, and
there are no crystal balls to help us determine the future. Our volunteers must be able to “go with the
flow” when things don’t play out exactly as they had thought or hoped that they
would. The anticipation of a new assignment or a visit on a particular day can
change in a heartbeat.
Communication – An awareness
of one’s own communication style is critical.
Some patients love to visit; others need to sit in stillness and be
quiet. Our volunteers need to be comfortable
in either situation. They need to know when
to talk and when to listen and always allow the patient to direct a visit. Communicating with other hospice team members
on a regular basis is important.
Commitment – Our patients come to rely on and
enjoy weekly visits from our volunteers.
Life has many twists and turns and can be busy at times. The volunteer must be able to commit 1-2
hours per week to their volunteering. A
commitment based on faith and trust in our organization is a must. The volunteer’s
commitment is a part of the hospice’s greater promise to provide a patient and
their loved ones with superior care.
Being agenda free – Visits are about the patients and not
about one’s own self. It is important
that our volunteers keep themselves “in check” before walking through the patient’s
doorway. The things that we value most
can be considered agendas when we feel the need
to impose them on others. Allowing the
patient to lead every visit serves the patient best and allows them to maintain
a sense of comfort, dignity, and harmony.
Casa volunteers
tell us they are honored when allowed the opportunity to spend time with our
patients and families. We believe that volunteers are special friends for a season during
a very sacred time. Our volunteers say
that they get more out of this experience than they give. They find the work to be incredibly
meaningful and often say that they are learning a lot about themselves.
To learn
more about volunteer opportunities with Casa de la Luz Hospice, visit our
Volunteers page, call us at 520-544-9890, or send us an e-mail.
By Cindy
Motz, Volunteer Coordinator
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