Hospice of Michigan Seeks Patient Companions to Volunteer In Antrim, Grand Traverse and Kalkaska Counties
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (Sept. 17, 2019) – Hospice of Michigan, the state’s original and largest not-for-profit hospice provider, is seeking caring and compassionate volunteers interested in donating their time as patient companions in Northern Michigan, including small towns such as Kalkaska, as well as its surrounding communities such as Mancelona, Rapid City and South Boardman. Those who have a passion for helping others are encouraged to submit a volunteer application. Hospice of Michigan welcomes partners or couples to apply and serve together, and volunteers do not need to have a medical background.
Volunteer companions such as Bobbie Vaught, a retired nurse who spent 30 years helping patients in hospitals across the state, help provide socialization and companionship to patients and caregivers in a variety of ways. She has spent much of the past two years volunteering with Hospice of Michigan in her community, visiting patients in their homes to share in activities such as playing cards, reading books, listening to music or simply providing conversation. Sometimes, those activities will include caregivers as well.
“I dealt with hospice patients in the past during my time as a nurse, and I had very high regard for them” said Vaught, who retired from nursing nearly five years ago. “These days, I’m basically providing companionship, and that has a calming effect on both me and the patient. I’m so glad I get to continue to do something meaningful, helping patients and families during what’s arguably one of the toughest times of their lives.”
Vaught has lots of love for all of the patients she cares for.
“Every patient I’ve seen has been a sacred story to me,” Vaught says. “It keeps me humble and gives me the drive for a more compassionate understanding of what patients and their families go through.”
Interested volunteers will be invited to a training session to learn more about working with patients, as well as general information about the not-for-profit hospice organization, its patients and the benefits that active volunteers may experience.
For more details or to register to become a volunteer patient companion in Northern Michigan, please contact Kathy Lietaert at 231.779.5409 or klietaer@hom.org. For more information about Hospice of Michigan, please call 888-247-5701 or visit www.hom.org.