TERRACE HOSPICE Society celebrates its 20th year of helping people in their last days and the families who grieve the loss of their loved ones.
New treasurer and volunteer Norene Parke has joined to help out as it’s a passion of hers to be there for people in their final days.
“Hospice and palliative care are such an important part of any community and are one area overlooked by most communities,” says Parke.
Hospice is one of the best kept secrets, she adds.
“It’s a privilege to be there when someone is born and a bigger privilege to be there when somebody dies,” she says.
“It’s an amazing feeling to be part of that.”
For Parke, being in hospice and sitting in the office that’s shared with the cancer society is the perfect choice for who she is.
She has been involved in aspects of both, which included the hospice society in Kamloops getting its own hospice building after many years of working to that end.
A great place here for one would be close to doctors and the hospital, such as near the former helipad.
“When you need help, it’s right there.”
Hospice volunteers include not only doctors, clergy, health care practitioners and retired health care workers but people from all walks of life.
Local volunteers work with people who have lost loved ones with one-on-one volunteer visits, grief support and group counselling to name a few.
The free lending library is quite extensive.
A majority of services are for seniors but hospice does serve all ages.
And that includes Terrace and area, up to the Nass Valley, down to Kitimat and out to Kitwanga.
The demand for hospice will become greater as the baby boomers age.
Hospice coordinator Penny Dobbin is the glue that binds the group, says Parke.
She keeps moving forward and is very friendly and approachable.
“If she doesn’t have the tools, then she knows where to go for them,” says Parke.
The Terrace Hospice Society is always looking for more volunteers and Parke encourages anyone with a passion for it to join.