Home Health & Hospice Care Seeks Diversity of Volunteers

Volunteers Help to Improve Quality of Life for Hospice Patients and Families

MERRIMACK, NH: Home Health & Hospice Care (HHHC) is looking for people to volunteer their time to provide visits to hospice patients and families. HHHC serves people who are approaching end of life in 25 communities in the greater Nashua/Manchester corridor. Volunteer support helps patients and their families feel less alone during a difficult time. A volunteer can make friendly visits, assist with light housework or shopping and errands, or provide respite so that family members can take a break. Volunteers may also become involved in a specialty program such as veterans supporting veterans at end of life, sitting vigil with people at very end of life, or complimentary therapy programs including pet visitation, music at the bedside, singing and Reiki.

To become active, volunteers are asked to complete a 33-hour Hospice training course. The Fall training series will which is typically offered as a series in the Spring and Fall. The Hospice Training Program will run Thursday evenings from 6-9 pm for 11 weeks. The series will begin September 28, 2023 and continue weekly through December 14, 2023 (taking the week of Thanksgiving off). Sessions will be held at 7 Executive Park Drive in Merrimack. Potential participants are encouraged to register immediately so that they may complete the application and interview process prior to the start of training.

The training sessions are informative and cover a variety of topics, including hospice philosophy, listening skills, family dynamics, emotional and spiritual issues, pain and symptom management, complementary therapies, and grief and bereavement care. The training is free for those who intend to volunteer. Individuals not interested in volunteering, but in taking the Hospice training for personal or professional reasons may attend for a $150 fee. More information may be found online at www.hhhc.org/how-to-help/volunteer, or contact Tanya Prather at 603-557-2806 or by email at volunteer@hhhc.org">volunteer@hhhc.org.