VNSNY Hospice Care Winter Training

The Visiting Nurse Service of New York will be offering its Winter Training for Hospice Care Volunteers in January. Training will be two Saturdays, January 15 and 22 from 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM at 1250 Broadway. Reservation is required.

The VNSNY Hospice Care volunteer's role is to be a supportive, caring person to the patient, caregiver and family. Our goal is to provide comfort, care and choice to our patients and their families during this difficult time in their lives. Some of the ways that volunteers help includes visiting to ease social isolation, calling caregivers and families to offer emotional support, reading, listening to music, knitting, and even helping patients write memoirs. Volunteers with special skills, such as singing, massage or hairstyling are also needed. The volunteer schedule is flexible; most of our volunteers are working professionals and volunteer in the evening or on weekends. All volunteers are placed with patients as close to their home or work as possible. Volunteers are needed in Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten island and Manhattan. Here is a brief review of the general requirements: 1.Be 18 years of age or older if applying to be a patient visitor. 2. Completed Training & Application (provided at training). 3. Background Check and Medical Clearance. These services are free and medical is performed by Mobile Health Management Services, Inc. 4. Commitment to one hour per week of service for one year (plus travel time) if doing direct patient care. Office hours are flexible, M-F. 5. Not be in a period of bereavement or expect to experience a significant loss within the next year. If you have experienced a significant loss within the last year, or if you expect to experience a loss in the next year, you must wait a minimum of one year before serving as a patient care volunteer. However, other volunteer opportunities within our hospice may be appropriate.