Goodrich-Compassion, hope and humor–just a few of the words used to describe the emotions expressd to hospice volunteers.
Genesys Home & Hospice Care, 7280 M-15, Goodrich is seeking additional volunteers to assist in making terminally ill patients as comfortable as possible.
Training sessions begin Jan. 31 and continue every Tuesday and Thursday through Feb. 23 at the Central Church of the Nazarene, G-1261 West Bristol Road in Flint.
Hospice provides an alternative to traditional hospital care, said licensed nurse practitioner Kathy Bowden.
‘I saw many people dying in pain,? Bowden, 49, recalled of her days working in a hospital.
Bowden, of Davison, said she feels hospice provides an alternative to what she considers the more clinical atmosphere of hospitals.
‘Hospice is dedicated to providing compassionate care to people who no longer have hope of recovering but still want to maintain a quality of life,? hospice chaplain and volunteer coordinator Hank Messing said.
‘We all work as a team here. It’s not only the staff but the volunteers too, ? Bowden said.
She said volunteers’like Scott Filer of Grand Blanc’are an essential part of hospice.
Filer, 52, said he is currently caring for three patients and has worked with an estimated 25 since becoming a volunteer two years ago.
He works with hospice as a volunteer two nights a week at an area nursing home.
‘Everybody, I think, volunteers for their own reasons’but I really don’t think there’s anything more rewarding than volunteering to help with the elderly,? Filer said.
And while volunteering is about giving of oneself to others, Filer said he has gotten much in return, specifically the bond that develops with those he assists.
‘The nice thing about this is I get a lot of new friends,? Filer said.
Volunteer Dick Lowthian of Brandon Township agreed.
‘The hospice needs the service. The volunteers get a lot out of it as well,? Lowthian said.
Lowthian, 59, decided to volunteer after seeing the care his own father was given at hospice.
‘My father passed away here three years ago,? Lowthian said.
‘He was here long enough for me to realize this place was a special place. I think a lot of the volunteers come here because of (treatment they saw a loved one receive),? he said.
‘The volunteer aspect is very much a part of what we provide here,? Messing said.
He said hospice volunteers provide assistance by doing ‘just about anything.?
‘Some volunteers will simply listen to the person… others will read for the patient if they have a favorite book they’d like to hear,? Messing said.
Lowthian recalled one woman he assisted last summer in creating a video to be given to each of her five children after she died.
‘She and I spent time together while I pretty much just ran the camera,? Lowthian said. ‘We taped it over a series of three meetings.?
‘That was probably the most unique thing I’ve done since I was a volunteer,? he said.
Other volunteers will clean, do yard work or help out by doing clerical work, Messing explained.
‘Really there’s just a wide variety of things.?
Volunteers who work directly with patients can assist in the home or at the hospice care center.
The process for training volunteers is spread out over several weeks, Messing said.
‘It’s a total of 24 hours of training? eight sessions, three hours each ‘spread over a number of weeks. It’s a very interesting training ….it’s time well spent. We’ll give them a kind of introduction to the hospice philosophy. We’ll talk about the spiritual aspect of their life. There’s a whole session on death and dying. We’ll also have a whole session on the nuts and bolts of volunteering.?
He said the training is informative for even those unsure if they would like to volunteer.
‘It’s a worthwhile endeavor for them,? Messing said.
Messing added he hopes anyone considering volunteering will ‘at least sign up and at least take the training. They’ll be happy that they took the step.?
‘Working or volunteering with hospice is one of the most challenging and most rewarding things you can do. At the end of the day you’re tired and you know why you’re tired,? Messing said.
He said while the job is, at times, emotionally taxing, it’s also often uplifting.
‘There are days when you just wonder why things have to be this way and days when it can be very very reaffirming,? Messing said. ‘Sometimes a sense of humor is very important to keeping your sanity.?
‘It does take a toll,? Bowden agreed. However, she explained, working with the terminally ill is not always sad, the way many expect it to be. She said while there are melancholy moments, the experience is overall, a positive one.
‘This is where I need to be,? Bowden said. ‘I love it.?
‘It’s probably the most rewarding feeling to know you can help somebody in this situation,? said Filer. ‘I absolutely love it.?
Anyone interested in volunteering for hospice or in getting more information can call: (810) 636-5021.