McLean graduated ten new volunteers in October, adding to the dedicated team that supports the McLean Hospice program.
The McLean Hospice Volunteer program currently includes 50 volunteers from varied backgrounds who want to contribute purposefully to the com- munity. “We are so pleased to welcome these dedicated volunteers to our Hospice Team. Many have experienced firsthand the difference hospice care made for a loved one, and now they have chosen to touch other lives with the same compassion and support,” said Christine Novak, McLean Hospice Volunteer Coordinator.
All volunteers who support McLean Hospice must successfully complete an initial 20-hour training program. The training is a combination of online self-study and classroom instruction. New volunteers are first mentored by their experienced peers to get accustomed to their role. Hospice volunteers become members of the care team of nurses, social workers, spiritual counselors and nurse aides. Volunteers provide social support for adults facing terminal ill- nesses, as well as respite to their families. They may visit patients in their homes, apartments, or nursing facilities to provide companionship, a listening ear and a caring presence. They also may assist patients in recording a life story, or help with specific tasks and errands.
McLean Hospice serves adults of all ages and works with families in the Farmington Valley and surrounding towns of Bloomfield, West Hartford and Windsor.
For more information on McLean Hospice or to learn about becoming a volunteer, please contact Chris Novak (Chris.Novak@McLeanCare.org) or call McLean Home Care and Hospice at 860-658-3950 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.