Transylvania Hospital to Hold Hospice Volunteer Training
BREVARD, N.C., Jan. 22, 2010 – Transylvania Regional Hospital is looking for caring hospice volunteers to provide encouragement and companionship for people with terminal illnesses as well as to provide support for their families and help in the local hospice effort.
“For many of our volunteers, there are few things more rewarding than offering their time and energy to help terminally ill patients and their families,” said Liz Cozart, TRH’s Hospice Program volunteer coordinator. “There are no prerequisites to be a hospice volunteer other than being dependable and willing to pitch in where needed.”
Hospice volunteer training classes begin on Feb. 11 at 9 a.m. at Transylvania Regional Hospital. The free eight-week course offers information, skills and insights needed to be a hospice volunteer. Classes cover emotional and spiritual concerns, communication skills, medical conditions and symptom management, bereavement follow-up, death and dying awareness, and healthy volunteering. Each class in the 24-hour course will be held from 9 a.m. to noon in the hospital’s Carlson Conference Room on consecutive Thursdays through April 1.
An informational meeting will be held on Feb. 4 at 11 a.m. at the TRH Home Care office on Asheville Highway, next to GO Grocery, in Brevard to explain the role of a hospice volunteer and provide details about the classes.
Hospice patient-care volunteers provide support to patients and their families through in-home visits, by providing respite for caregivers, by helping families with errands and other tasks. Office volunteers help with mailings, data entry, record keeping and special projects. Bereavement volunteers make calls to family members, maintain bereavement records and materials, and also help with mailings. Fundraising volunteers plan and carry out the annual Tree of Remembrance fundraiser, which helps financially support the program.
“We have a variety of different volunteer jobs to help support hospice patients and their families,” Cozart said. “This is a great opportunity to provide a valuable service to the community and be part of a dynamic and dedicated team.”
To sign up for hospice training or for more information, call Cozart at 883-5251.
About Transylvania Regional Hospital
Transylvania Regional Hospital is a nationally ranked 5-Star Hospital and a leading provider of quality healthcare services in Transylvania and surrounding counties. Based in Brevard, N.C., it is a not-for-profit hospital founded in 1933 and is the largest employer in Transylvania County.
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