Not-for-profit seeking individuals to help families in Alcona, Glennie, Harrisville, Hubbard Lake, Lincoln, Mikado and Spruce
ALPENA, Mich. (Oct. 5, 2023) – Hospice of Michigan is seeking compassionate volunteers to help patients and families dealing with life-limiting illnesses in communities throughout Alcona, Glennie, Harrisville, Hubbard Lake, Lincoln, Mikado and Spruce, Michigan.
The not-for-profit needs individuals to provide companionship and caregiver relief visits to patients in their home, assisted living facilities or long-term care facilities.
Spruce native Cindy Johnson has been a hospice volunteer for a year, offering comfort and support to local patients through companionship visits. The patients and families she serves are neighbors – people in her own community that are under Hospice of Michigan’s care.
“I do this so patients aren’t alone; so they know somebody cares,” said Johnson. “Taking a few hours out of your week to volunteer your time brings a little bit of sunshine to a patient’s day. It’s special that patients enjoy spending time with me and makes me want to keep coming back.”
Hospice of Michigan volunteers are vital in helping to deliver exceptional, compassionate support to patients and families according to its mission of caring for patients wherever they call home, right in the same community in which its volunteers live.
“Our communities need the support of hospice volunteers to offer companionship and kindness during one of life’s most challenging times,” said Kathy Lietaert, volunteer program manager with Hospice of Michigan. “Patients cherish the time spent with our volunteers, and caregivers are appreciative of the much-needed break. Volunteering with us is more than just a few hours out of your day – you are adding to patients’ lives with experiences only a dedicated Hospice of Michigan Volunteer can provide.”
Hospice of Michigan will host orientations on an as-needed basis. Volunteers do not need any type of training or previous volunteer experience. The not-for-profit welcomes everyone who would like to give back to their community by donating their time and companionship to patients in hospice care. Volunteers must be age 18 or older and have a valid driver’s license and auto insurance.
For those who have experienced a recent loss, Hospice of Michigan requires a waiting period of one year before becoming a hospice volunteer to allow for the processing of grief.
Those interested in volunteering can contact Kathy Lietaert, volunteer program manager with Hospice of Michigan at klietaer@hom.org or call 231-779-5409. To learn more about Hospice of Michigan and apply to become a volunteer, visit hom.org/get-involved.
About Hospice of Michigan
A nationally recognized leader in end-of-life care, Hospice of Michigan (HOM) is the original – and largest – hospice in the state. A founding member of the NorthStar Care Community, the not-for-profit delivers the highest quality of care, raising more than $5 million each year to cover costs for the uninsured and underinsured. HOM offers a broad range of services to enhance the quality of life at the end of life. HOM also provides grief support and counseling, as well as caregiver education and support. A member of the NorthStar Care Community, HOM also provides palliative care through NorthStar Palliative Care, pediatric hospice care and compassionate support services through Jo Elyn Nyman Anchors Programs for Children, and education programs for physicians and health care professionals through the NorthStar Institute. The NorthStar Care Community also includes Arbor Hospice. In total, NorthStar Care Community members serve more than 6,100 patients annually across Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. For more information, call 888-247-5701 or visit www.hom.org.