ONE HOSPICE volunteer, who has been helping out for 16 years, does a variety of tasks and says it’s not all about sitting with someone who’s dying.
Wanda Fairless, who was one of the first hospice volunteer trainees, has done just about every job that can be done at hospice and invites anyone who’s thinking about volunteering to join.
“Whatever’s needed, I’ll be there,” she said about the tasks she does.
Fairless took care of her husband when he had cancer and hospice didn’t exist here.
Thankfully she had the support of family and friends, which was important but draining on them as well, she says.
Family members who are caring for a loved one need breaks and hospice can provide someone to be with their loved one.
Volunteers can provide comfort, quality of life and dignity to those approaching death.
Once the person has passed away, family members have grief to deal with and volunteers can help them walk through the wilderness of grief, she says.
People can come into the office and sit with a volunteer and talk, or just sit, can pick up pamphlets, books or videos.
Hospice has a job for any volunteer since there are so many tasks to do, says Fairless.
Fairless has been a hospice board member, done the Hike for Hospice and takes part in Celebrate a Life in December where hospice remembers all those who have passed away.
The hospice office is open 10 a.m. to noon Monday to Friday and the office is shared with the cancer society.
Volunteer training has started and it continues for one night each week for three months.
The training provides all the knowledge a volunteer needs for the tasks they can do at hospice.