Respite Care is short term care that helps a person or family take a break from the daily routine and stress. Respite care is an essential part of the overall support that patients and families may need after surgery or an event where care is needed.
Hospice Care is a special kind of care designed to provide comfort and support for patients facing a terminal illness as well as attention for their families and care givers. Hospice focuses on enhancing the quality of life. It neither hastens no postpones death; it affirms life and regards dying as a normal process.
Bereavement is when a close friend or family member has passed away. The care is not to fix grief but is about the privilege of being a companion and a facilitator to help through the healing process.
Volunteers are the heart of this ministry; they provide the extra love and care for patients, their families and care givers during this time of need. Volunteers offer support, companionship and practical compassionate help to our parish members and families during. Whether it is running errands, staying with the patient so family members can take a break or reading to a patient or holding their hand. The help and support the volunteers give is returned to them in countless ways.
A volunteer can donate as much or as little of their time as they desire. The duties of the volunteers are varied. This flexibility allows the volunteers to find an area or service that is uniquely suited to them as well as provide them with the greatest personal satisfaction. Volunteers will never provide hands on care that would be the responsibility of a nurse's aide or nurse.
As a volunteer, there is an orientation to the hospice program to understand the caring philosophy and goals that we attend. This will enable volunteers to have the skills needed to assist patients and their families. Volunteers will not be asked to become a counselor, just a non-judgmental listener and friend.
Volunteers love the sense of self-satisfaction they will receive from enriching someone's life. And they will enjoy learning the vast experience and colorful life of the patients and their families. Volunteers often tell that whenever they volunteer with respite care, they learn new skills and expand their knowledge and experience.
More information is available at the Rectory or in the additional information below.