TORONTO — Circle of Care needs volunteers for its hospice visiting program, which provides in-home care and support to individuals who face life-threatening illness and to their families and caregivers.
Volunteers provide companionship, relieve caregivers and assist with outings, errands and light shopping.
The Jewish Hospice Program, a partnership of Circle of Care, Jewish Family and Child, Mount Sinai Hospital’s Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care, Baycrest and UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, provides care for all Jewish residents in the Greater Toronto Area, and the general hospice program is geared to all residents, Jewish and non-Jewish, of the former North York.
Mindy Shiel, hospice volunteer program co-ordinator, said that volunteers, who complete hospice training and receive ongoing supervision, go through an interview process and police check, and must be willing to commit themselves for at least one year.
The 30-hour training program covers such topics as grief and bereavement, body mechanics and ethics, she said. “Volunteers – the agency now has about 50 who served about 90 clients last year – have told me that they feel rewarded, valued and fulfilled from their work,” said Shiel, who recruits, interviews, trains and matches volunteers for the program.
With more and more people choosing to remain at home throughout their illness, she said, the agency requires additional volunteers.
Each client has one volunteer who visits once a week for two to four hours, she said. “If the client is all alone, they may put a second volunteer in place if one is available.”
Volunteers, who are compassionate, confident, have no issues with death, and can respect clients’ rights and decisions, check in regularly with her, she said.
“They’re often the ones who inform us if there is a change in the client’s status. They develop a relationship with the client and their family, and they’ve sometimes gone to the funeral and the shivah when the client dies.”
She stressed that not all clients are dying. “Some need long-term care. There is no prediction how long the [client/volunteer] relationship will last.
“It is definitely an important program, and it is beneficial for everyone involved.”
For information, call Shiel at 416-635-2860.
