Hospice volunteers who provide comfort, compassion and dignity at the end of life are needed in Schuylkill County, a coordinator from Hospice of Central PA said.
Barbara J. Hardy, volunteer coordinator for the agency headquartered in Harrisburg, said Thursday that the community-based nonprofit hospice has been serving central Pennsylvania for 35 years and has an office in Mar Lin.
"Hospice of Central PA's mission is to provide high quality comfort and care to the terminally ill and their families," Hardy said. "We use the coordinated care of a disciplinary team of professionals and well-trained volunteers."
In Schuylkill County, it has three volunteers, which Hardy said "is a shame" because it could use more to serve its patients.
Typically, one volunteer is assigned to a patient and their family.
"They generally provide approximately four to six hours a week of support to that family depending upon individual needs," she said. "The visits can involve any number of things, but certainly companionship and comfort to the patient is the primary goal."
The families also use the volunteer's time there to get some rest, run errands or keep other appointments from their responsibility of the 24/7 care of their loved one.
One of the volunteers in the Schuylkill County is Carolanne Lengle, Pine Grove, who joined Hospice of Central PA about a year ago while looking for something useful to do in retirement.
"This is a way for me to fulfill something in my life and feel like I'm really making a difference," Lengle said. "When I come home and leave my patients, I always feel really good. It gives me a boost. I can't really explain it."
Lengle, who said she used to be a dog groomer, found out about the program in a church bulletin then decided to join.
There was a training program that she attended that assured her "this is what I'm supposed to be doing this time in my life."
Visiting both patients in nursing homes and assisted living facilities or in personal homes, Lengle sits with the patients if the caregiver wants to go on errands and talks with some if they're able to respond, although some have a form of dementia.
"Sometimes you can play music for them, which is a very good way to get them to respond because sometimes if they don't respond to anything else, they will respond to music," Lengle said.
When it comes to care, Lengle said volunteers are allowed to do certain things such as help them to the bathroom or out of a chair.
While being a hospice has many challenges, such as helping the patient around or trying to interact with them, Lengle said the biggest challenge is getting people to understand what hospice really is and about "what a very needed and special program" it is.
"It's helping people go on with the last chapter of their lives," Lengle said. "No one wants to lose their loved ones, but they need to be helped through the pain and anxiety of it. They (hospice volunteers) try to make everything as comfortable for the patient as possible."
The experience is rewarding, being able to meet "wonderful people" and is for anyone looking for something fulfilling and to see that they are "really needed and useful," she added.
Hospice of Central PA works with its volunteers so that if there's something they're uncomfortable with or unable to do, like physically taking care of someone's needs or if they just want to work in nursing homes, the hospice will accommodate the volunteer.
Lengle recalled that she'll never forget the first time she went in with a patient and was "scared to death," but within five minutes that completely changed.
There is also bereavement counseling available for volunteers after working with patients.
Hardy also said that in addition to the comprehensive training for volunteers who want to get involved, the hospice offers continuing education and support once the volunteer is actively involved in their role as a volunteer "so they feel that they are a valued member of a professional health care team."
For more information or to become a volunteer with Hospice of Central PA, visit www.hospiceofcentralpa.org.