EvergreenHealth Hospice Care is actively seeking compassionate community members to join 200-plus volunteers who have the fulfilling experience of providing assistance at the hospice center in Kirkland and at patient homes throughout King and Snohomish counties.
EvergreenHealth Hospice Care volunteers provide comfort and support to patients and families living with terminal illness in homes, skilled-nursing facilities, assisted-living facilities and adult family homes and at the hospice center.
Priscilla Wiest is one such volunteer, having worked in every aspect of the EvergreenHealth hospice program since 2005.
“The experience you have with the patients and their families during this transition time in their lives is very much a learning process for the volunteer and the patient. It doesn’t have to be a sad time; rather, it’s often a time of reflection,” said Wiest. “Every day I volunteer, I learn something new, and that keeps my mind open to learning new things in the future. The staff are also so appreciative of the time you spend with the patients.”
Hospice volunteering runs in Wiest’s family. Her 87-year-old mother is also an EvergreenHealth Hospice Care volunteer, and her sister volunteers at a hospice center in Vermont.
“Many times a patient will be amazed that someone is coming to see them for no other reason than that they care about them,” said Criss East, EvergreenHealth Hospice Care volunteer coordinator. “To know that you matter to someone really has a positive impact.”
EvergreenHealth Hospice Care has many available opportunities for Eastside community members to join the Wiests and the rest of the hospice volunteers, including roles such as:
• Visiting with patients at either the hospice center or in the patient’s home
• Calling patients at home to make sure they’re “tucked in” for the weekend
• Providing brief respite care for families
• Greeting and guiding hospice center visitors
• Assisting with volunteer training
• Serving comfort items such as blankets for patients
Hospice Care volunteers must be at least 18 years old and are asked for a one-year commitment of up to four hours per week.
If you or someone you know would like to learn more about volunteering with Hospice Care, please visit the volunteer pages of the EvergreenHealth website or contact Criss East at (425) 899-1049 or cmeast@evergreenhealth.com.
Last year, more than 1,100 active volunteers donated more than 84,000 hours at EvergreenHealth. Those who are compassionate, dependable and able to make a weekly commitment will find many opportunities for volunteering. If you are interested in other volunteering opportunities, please visit www.evergreenhealth.com/volunteer or call (425) 899-1994.
