Hospice Volunteer Training
One of the U.P.’s hospice groups is teaching supporters to provide quality end–of–life care for people facing a terminal illness, and their loved ones.
Lake Superior Hospice in Marquette held a two–day training session for its volunteers over the weekend.
Because they care for not only the patient, but also the patient’s family, hospice organizations constantly need new volunteers.
Dr. Larry Skendzel, medical director for Lake Superior Hospice, says besides being with a patient, doing things like housework for a patient’s family can be very helpful to assist caregivers.
The idea of hospice began in the 1930s in Britain.
Dr. Mohey Mowafy, a new volunteer and a recently retired NMU professor, says he’s glad to know that hospice exists because it’s unheard of in his native Egypt.
However, his sister needed to take care of their mother for a period of years.
Dr. Mowafy says the experience took a great deal out of his sister, and he calls hospice a gift.
Lake Superior Hospice has monthly orientation sessions for anyone who wants to become a volunteer.