Services
Services: Hospice Program
Volunteer Page
Hospice Volunteers offer patients and families an invaluable option for respite, companionship, or assistance. At Norwell VNA and Hospice, volunteers are certified through an extensive training program that incorporates hospice philosophy, policies, and psychosocial aspects of end of life care. Like all employees of Norwell VNA and Hospice, volunteers also undergo CORI, professional registry, and reference checks before placement.
The hospice volunteer is an integral member of the Hospice Team. While volunteers do not provide any hands-on care for the patient, they do visit with the patient in his/her home and thus enable family caregivers to take a much needed break and tend to their own personal issues, medical needs, or simply to rest.
Depending on the patient’s condition and/or wishes, volunteers can engage in conversation, card games, letter writing, listening to music, or even a neighborhood walk with the patient. In some instances, again due to the patient’s condition and/or wishes, the volunteer may just sit quietly with the patient or in another room to ensure someone is nearby. Volunteers can also run errands for the patient and/or caregivers.
Pet Therapy Program
Our pet therapy dogs provide joy and comfort to our patients who request visits. The dogs have been trained and certified as therapy dogs, along with their handlers who have also completed our volunteer training program.
Volunteer opportunities
Norwell VNA and Hospice conducts volunteer training throughout the year. Opportunities exist for both patient volunteers (as described above) and administrative volunteers. Administrative volunteers assist with clerical duties in the Norwell VNA and Hospice offices related to the hospice program. For information on volunteering for Norwell VNA and Hospice, please contact Terri Fedrow at 781-659-2342 or email TFedrow@nvna.org.
