Holy Redeemer Seeking Hospice Volunteers for Philadelphia, Bucks and Montgomery Counties

Philadelphia, PA – February 25, 2015 – Holy Redeemer HomeCare and Hospice is seeking compassionate and emotionally mature volunteers to provide support to local hospice patients and their families in Philadelphia, Bucks and Montgomery Counties. Volunteers are especially needed to provide companionship, emotional support, respite and compassionate presence to patients with life-limiting illnesses during the daytime hours.

“It takes a very unique and compassionate person to serve as a hospice volunteer,” said Jean Francis, Holy Redeemer’s Volunteer Coordinator for Pennsylvania. “Part of their role is to reflect Holy Redeemer’s underlying mission to care, comfort and heal by providing a listening ear, an extra set of hands or a shoulder to cry on.”

Being with people who are facing a limited life expectancy can provide an opportunity for insight and enlightenment, she said. Often they can provide volunteers with a new perspective on life by sharing their personal histories and experiences.

“People who are confronting the end of life are often our best teachers, by enabling us to rethink priorities and redirect energy into tasks that are most meaningful and important in life. Many of our patient care volunteers experience a tremendous sense of personal and spiritual fulfillment as a result of the interactions they have and the relationships they develop,” said Francis. “While volunteers truly make a difference in the lives of patients and families, often the reverse is true, as well.”

Hospice patient care volunteers typically visit with patients in their homes, in nursing facilities and on Holy Redeemer Hospice’s inpatient unit once a week for two to four hours. They provide emotional support and companionship to patients and family members, assist with errands, or provide respite for caregivers.

Patient care volunteers must be at least 21 years of age and complete an application and interview with the volunteer coordinator before being accepted into the program. The 20-hour volunteer training program includes on-line training as well as classroom sessions to cover the medical, psychological and spiritual aspects of end-of-life care. Volunteers also learn how to set boundaries and navigate different family structures while being encouraged to find healthy avenues to relieve stress and perform self-care. Both day and evening training programs are offered.

To sign up for volunteer opportunities in Philadelphia, Bucks or Montgomery Counties, contact Jean Francis at (215) 698-3737, or email: jfrancis@holyredeemer.com.

Holy Redeemer HomeCare and Hospice

Holy Redeemer HomeCare and Hospice provides care to patients and their families in Philadelphia, Bucks and Montgomery counties in Pennsylvania. Holy Redeemer HomeCare and Hospice, the largest nonprofit provider of home health and hospice services in the state of New Jersey, offers a continuum of services throughout 12 New Jersey counties, including Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, Middlesex, Ocean, Salem, Somerset, and Union. It is part of Holy Redeemer Health System, which offers a wide range of healthcare and health-related services, including an acute care hospital, home health and hospice services, two skilled nursing facilities, supportive care, a retirement community, low-income housing, an active living community, and a transitional housing program for homeless women and children. For more information, visit holyredeemer.com/HomeCare.