New Volunteers Sought for Aultman Hospice; Training Provided

CANTON, Ohio (Sept. 29, 2009) -- Aultman Hospice is seeking volunteers to provide compassionate support to those journeying through their final stages of life and their families. No experience is required, because training is provided.

Free training will be held on Mondays and Thursdays, Oct. 12-26, from noon-4 p.m., at St. Stephen Martyr Lutheran Church. Attendance to all five sessions is required. Call 330-479-4805 by Oct. 8 to register.

Aultman Hospice Program Volunteer Coordinator Becky Shafer, said, “It’s truly about living and a deep appreciation for every moment that takes place throughout life’s journey.”

“Our volunteers offer their personal interests and life experiences to help hospice patients and families throughout their journey. Their service is as rewarding to them as it is to the community,” she said.

Volunteers can be as hands-on with patients and their families as they wish. For example, volunteers can:

sit with patients and provide caregivers with a few hours of respite time;
provide a presence, offer emotional support;
assist with life reviews, writing letters, making greeting cards and other keepsake items for loved ones;
work in an administrative role in the office;
run errands or provide light housekeeping;
make baked goods for the family;
serve as a bereavement buddy;
and much more

“No matter what the task, volunteers are the heart of our program. It’s through their compassionate support that we are able to fulfill our mission – to provide exceptional care and support to all people who are at the end of life,” Shafer said.

Volunteers with good daytime availability are needed. Both male and female volunteers are enormous assets to our program, she added.

St. Stephen Martyr Lutheran Church is located at 4600 Fulton Dr. NW, Canton. Call 330-479-4805 or e-mail Shafer at rshafer@aultman.com to register.

The purpose of hospice is to provide support and care for people in the final phase of a terminal disease, so they can live as fully and comfortably as possible. Hospice services are available in the home and in the nursing-home setting. Any terminally ill person residing in Stark County and surrounding areas is eligible for the program. Aultman Hospice provides telephone consultations and home visits as needed on a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week basis. Call 330-479-4805 or 1-800-628-4302.

The Aultman Health Foundation is a not-for-profit health-care organization serving Stark and surrounding counties. The vertically integrated institution includes Aultman Hospital, the locally managed health-insurance provider AultCare and the Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences. With 682 beds, 530 active physicians and a staff of more than 5,000 employees, Aultman is Stark County’s largest hospital and employer. For more information, visit www.aultman.org.

Media Contact
Leslee Dennis, Aultman Communications
330-363-5319, ldennis@aultman.com