Community Care Hospice, part of the Community Visiting Nurse Association (CVNA), seeks volunteers to help patients and families while they are coping with a life-limiting illness. Volunteers provide an invaluable gift of time and presence to the patient and/or family members.
Besides listening and talking, volunteers may also perform light household tasks, run errands, and give respite to the caregivers and family members. Volunteers may visit patients in a home setting, assisted living facility or nursing home. Volunteers are needed weekdays, weekends, day and evening hours. The volunteers generally set their schedule after visiting with the family or caregiver. These volunteers give approximately 1-3 hours of their time per week to each family.
All volunteers must complete seven weeks of training, two hours per week. Topics included in the training are end-of-life care, grief and bereavement and the philosophy of hospice. Volunteer training takes place once a week at the Community VNA offic, 110 West end Avenue, Somerville, NJ. The next training period is scheduled for Thursday evenings, 6:00-8:00 pm, beginning May 8 and continuing through June 12, 2014. The official application process begins in March with a personal interview which is scheduled with the Volunteer Coordinator. For more information, please contact Melissa von der Heide, Hospice Volunteer Coordinator, at 908-725-9355, ext. 2230. A limited number of applicants can be accepted for training.
A community-based, not for profit health care agency, Community VNA provides quality home care, hospice and community services. The organization promotes health education, wellness and prevention services to the community, focusing primarily on Somerset and Middlesex Counties.