Traverse City, Michigan, February 12, 2014 – Hospice of Michigan will hold volunteer orientation on the first two Mondays in March in Traverse City.
New volunteers are asked to go through a 12-hour training course where they learn more about HOM, the principles of hospice, the grieving process and how to help patients, families and staff. The sessions will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, March 3 and Monday, March 10.
Lunch and snacks will be served both days. The sessions will take place at HOM in the Bayview Professional Centre, 10850 E Traverse Highway, Suite 1155. Advance registration is required.
Hospice of Michigan is looking for volunteers to provide patient companionship and grief support to clients and families in Grand Traverse, Leelanau and Kalkaska counties.
“If you have a few hours to spare every week, you can make a real difference in someone’s life,” said Kathy Lietaert, volunteer services manager. “Making a cup of tea or reading the newspaper to someone struggling with illness not only adds normalcy to their day, it gives caregivers much- needed relief and the personal time they need.
“The opportunities to volunteer are virtually limitless. Our best volunteers have a passion for helping others. They may or may not have a specific skill to share, but they have the time and willingness to make a difference in the life of patients and their families.”
For more information or to register, please contact Lietaert at 231.779.5409 or via e-mail at klietaer@www.hom.org.
For those who have experienced a loss, HOM encourages a waiting period of one year before becoming a volunteer in order to allow for the processing of grief.
About Hospice of Michigan
A nationally recognized leader in end-of-life care, Hospice of Michigan is the original – and largest – hospice in the state of Michigan. The non-profit organization cares for more than 1,400 patients each day in 56 counties, raising more than $4 million each year to cover the cost of care for the uninsured and underinsured. HOM offers innovative programs to enhance the quality of care for people at the end of life, education programs for physicians and healthcare professionals, caregiver education materials, cultural diversity programs for end-of-life care, and research and education programs at the Maggie Allesee Center for Innovation. For more information, call Hospice of Michigan’s Telesupport Center 24/7 at 888.247.5701 or go to www.hom.org.