National Volunteer Week is a time to recognize, celebrate and thank Canada’s 13.3 million volunteers! Here at home, there are so many fantastic volunteers who help to build our communities by giving generously of their time & talents. This week, Todayville in partnership with Volunteer Central is profiling several incredible volunteer initiatives.
Today we’re taking a closer look at the Red Deer Hospice.
The mission of the Red Deer Hospice is to provide physical, social, emotional and spiritual care in a community-based, home-like setting for individuals who are dying and for their loved ones.
The Red Deer Hospice house features 10 resident rooms, kitchen, multiple family sitting areas and a sanctuary, along with work spaces for staff. Each room is equipped with a hospital bed and a living-room style seating area with a pull-out couch, chairs, and television with cable. Guests are welcome to spend the night with their loved ones if that is the wish of the resident.
Red Deer Hospice has nursing staff on site 24/7 and staff are specialized for Hospice Palliative Care Nursing, ensuring the very best of individualized, personal care.
Residents are not charged a fee to stay at Red Deer Hospice. While some costs are offset by Alberta Health Services, the organization relies mainly on charitable donations to cover the costs of care. Donations are gratefully accepted to help cover these costs.
Volunteer at Red Deer Hospice
When you invest your time, your talents, and your heart into Hospice volunteering, you change a life: your own. Red Deer Hospice could not operate without the thousands of hours contributed by dedicated volunteers each year. Careful screening, in-depth training, and the ever-present support of health professionals enable volunteers to offer the compassionate care and support that help residents live more fully during the completion of their life journey.
Is Hospice right for you? Please consider the following to assess whether you are ready for Hospice Volunteering:
- I have an interest in the Hospice concept and have a desire to help others.
- I have some awareness of what is drawing me to Hospice work and am willing to explore this in depth.
- I am not bringing personal agendas or ‘missions’ to my Hospice work and I understand that our goal is not to change dying people but to be with them where they are.
- I am sensitive to the special needs of dying residents and their families and have chosen to work to support them.
- I am aware of the losses I have experienced, my way of grieving, and I have a sense of perspective about life and death, loss and grief.
- I am open to others who may have different values, beliefs, and ways of living. I am able to listen well and to validate others where they are, rather than where I believe they should be.
- I am willing to commit myself to the training and to the Volunteer responsibilities that follow, and to gaining an understanding of the standards and policies of the Red Deer Hospice.
- As I may be called to work in a variety of areas and perform many tasks, self-reliance, flexibility, and adaptability are assets.
- I have a realistic awareness of my own strengths and weaknesses, and realize that the ability to set limits is important.
- I enjoy working as part of a team, and am willing to explore ways of supporting and being supported by team members.
- I am dedicated to my own growth and on-going learning. My personal strengths include warmth, concern for people, sense of humour, and approachability.
If this is of interest to you, consider filling out a volunteer application here.
About Volunteer Central
Through our comprehensive website, convenient downtown location, and relevant programs and workshops, we connect volunteers, non-profit organizations, and businesses to create successful volunteer relationships in Central Alberta.
At Volunteer Central, we…
- offer a listing of volunteer opportunities
- list non-profit employment opportunities
- host training programs and workshops
- develop corporate volunteer programs
- promote and support community events
- build capacity in the nonprofit sector across central Alberta
Related
