What would happen if you were diagnosed with a terminal illness? Where and how would you like to live out the rest of your life? If you and your family have decided that you wish to die at home, then accessing the proper resources and services will lessen some of the potential strain of caregiving. You may desire to have an in-home hospice visiting volunteer to provide you and your family with palliative care support. A discussion with your physician, Home and Community Care Coordinator or hospital Patient-Flow Coordinator can determine if a referral to the in-home hospice visiting service would be suitable for you. Find out more in this week's podcast.
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You can listen to episodes of "Changing Lives" on 91x FM each Monday (except for holidays) at 9:05am. Hospice Quinte is grateful to the support that 91x FM provides in producing the "Changing Lives" podcast.
About Hospice Quinte
Hospice Quinte provides individuals, their families, and caregivers with compassionate end of life care, by attending to their physical, psychosocial, and practical needs, and offering empathetic care to those who are grieving through visiting hospice services and support groups. All Hospice Quinte programs and services are provided by compassionate, well-trained volunteers and staff at no charge to the individual or their family.
Hospice Quinte serves a population of over 102,000 in Quinte West, Belleville, Deseronto, Tyendinaga Township and the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. To find out more visit HospiceQuinte.ca.
What would happen if you were diagnosed with a terminal illness? Where and how would you like to live out the rest of your life? If you and your family have decided that you wish to die at home, then accessing the proper resources and services will lessen some of the potential strain of caregiving. You may desire to have an in-home hospice visiting volunteer to provide you and your family with palliative care support. A discussion with your physician, Home and Community Care Coordinator or hospital Patient-Flow Coordinator can determine if a referral to the in-home hospice visiting service would be suitable for you.
Hospice Quinte matches people in their last 12 months of life, or the terminal phase of an illness, with a trained volunteer. Our community hospice team will assess your needs, interests and hobbies and will match you with a trained volunteer with similar interests. Visiting volunteers can provide up to 4 hours of service per week and become a part of your circle of care. Volunteers seek to improve the quality of life for someone who is terminally ill, as well as act as a support person for the family. The volunteer visit provides meaningful activities for the dying person, while providing much needed respite for the family members. Being a caregiver can take a toll on one’s physical and mental health. A 2006 Health Canada survey found that 41% of family caregivers reported a negative impact on their mental health and 38% reported negative effects on their physical health. In addition, there can be also financial impacts when family caregivers take time off work to care for a terminally-ill loved one. In 2019, Health Quality Ontario reported that the average cost for family caregivers to provide palliative care at home can equate to over $18,000 per month in lost wages, lost leisure time and out of pocket expenses. Luckily, the in-home visiting hospice volunteer program is absolutely free of charge!
Hospice Quinte volunteers receive 33 hours of hospice palliative care education, which makes them a valuable member of the care team. Visiting volunteers are trained on topics such as comfort measures and the dying process, as well as diversity and spiritual care. This education allows them to support the emotional, psychological, spiritual, practical, and social needs of a dying person and their family. Volunteers are trained eyes within the home and can bring concerns forward to their community hospice team who can advocate for additional services and resources on behalf of the family. Visiting volunteers provide compassionate and non-judgmental service, which provides a safe space for the client to share their stories at end of life. Sometimes the dying person is not comfortable to share their fear of death with a family member for fear of burdening them. An empathetic volunteer can lend an ear and hold a safe space for the client while they share their fears or stories. Towards the end stages of life when the dying person sleeps more or loses consciousness, the volunteer is often there to hold space for the caregivers as well.
Sometimes families are reluctant to accept services and do not want “strangers” coming into their homes. However, starting service with a trained hospice volunteer is often a way to gain acceptance for services within the home. A 2014 study showed that Canadian families found the empathetic and friendly presence of the volunteer provided a positive impact on the caregiving role and allowed them to take much needed respite and provided vital emotional support. Sometimes gaining trust with the friendly presence of a visiting volunteer is all that is needed to accept additional services into the home. Once a visiting volunteer has gained rapport with the family their value becomes more apparent. Visiting volunteers are unique in their skillset because they have time to spend with you, whereas other members of the healthcare team may be on a strict schedule and do not have time for a friendly chat, or to lend an extra hand when needed. Time truly is a valuable gift in a busy society with many demands on the healthcare system!
Contact Hospice Quinte if you are interested in learning more about having a visiting volunteer come to your home or if you are interested in becoming a trained in-home hospice volunteer yourself.
Hospice Quinte provides individuals, their families, and caregivers with compassionate end of life care, by attending to their physical, psychosocial, and practical needs, and offering empathetic care to those who are grieving through visiting hospice services and support groups. All Hospice Quinte programs and services are provided by compassionate, well-trained volunteers and staff at no charge to the individual or their family. We serve a population of over 102,000 in Quinte West, Belleville, Deseronto, Tyendinaga Township and the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory.