MIDDLEBURY — Ilsley Public Library will host an information session about being a hospice volunteer on Saturday, Feb. 29, between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Personnel from Bayada Hospice will be on hand for a meet-and-greet to learn about the rewards of volunteering for hospice.
Hospice volunteers have a large impact on people’s lives, sharing their talents and helping those at the end of their lives. “Our volunteers are respected members of the care team, whether they walk a client’s dog, help them write letters, garden, sing/read to them, join our Joy Patrol, or just offer a friendly ear and reminisce,” says Martha Perantoni, Volunteer Coordinator. “They may work person-to-person or may prefer to stay behind the scenes helping with administrative tasks.”
People who are in the process of dying have a unique perspective on what it means to be alive. Bayada Hospice volunteers want to help them find meaning in every moment that they still have. “We take our mission seriously, but we also have fun while partnering with our patients on their journey. We welcome upbeat, big-hearted people who are dedicated to bringing peace and joy to those at the end of life.”
Orientation is informative, easy, and individually constructed for the volunteer’s life experience and how they’d like to serve. It is designed to give helpers the tools to be confident and comfortable working with clients. At the Ilsley session short films about hospice volunteering, pet therapy dogs, refreshments, and printed information and applications will be available.
For more information contact Martha Perantoni, Volunteer Coordinator, at [email protected], 802-282-4122 or at bayada.com.