JSSA Volunteers Find Their Fit
Holly Radice became a volunteer for JSSA almost two years ago. She’s visited dozens of hospice patients, made hundreds of bereavement phone calls, and served at JSSA’s annual Day in the Park: Family Wellness Day.
“I’m really impressed with JSSA and their support of the community,” Holly said. “As a volunteer, there’s a lot of opportunities to get involved.”
JSSA volunteers support our caregivers and clients in many ways – meal delivery, home visits, shopping, gift basket delivery, tutoring, office support, etc. Holly is one of dozens of regular hospice and bereavement volunteers, offering an extra set of eyes on patients and additional companionship for those nearing the end-of-life.
Research has shown hospice patients and their families greatly benefit from companionship and respite during what can be a very difficult period. The National Institutes of Health says the benefits even extend to the volunteers themselves.
In fact, Holly was attracted to volunteering for a hospice program after her mother died. She saw then just how important companionship and support are for those at end-of-life and their families.
“It can be hard for families as they watch their loved one change,” Holly said. “As a volunteer, I just get to enjoy the person where they are.”
Holly describes herself as a service-oriented person – her day job includes fundraising for a humanitarian non-profit agency – and she’s happy to have found volunteer opportunities that fit her busy schedule. She often walks to the nearby senior living facility to visit JSSA hospice patients in the evenings and bereavement phone calls can be made from home.
Volunteer for Hospice
JSSA’s Hospice program ensures individuals living with life-limiting illnesses, experience comfort, respect, and dignity at the end-of-life. Patients who are not ready for hospice care can join our Transitions program and receive ongoing monitoring from a JSSA nurse. Patients can also continue receiving curative treatments from their doctors in the Transitions program.
Hospice volunteers are integral to JSSA’s comprehensive care teams, offering companionship, music or massage therapy, and pet visits to patients and their families. As volunteers spend quality time with patients, and their visit notes ensure essential observations of a patient’s well-being are passed on to the medical staff.
Holly said she tries to be creative in her visits and responsive to an individual’s hobbies. For one recent patient, Holly brought a different children’s book every week to read as the patient was an avid reader and children’s book lover.
“Even for the patients unaware of what’s going on, I can tell that we’re establishing a relationship,” she said. “They know me.”
For more information about how to volunteer, get in touch today.
