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Volunteer With Us

Our Society has approximately 75 dedicated and compassionate palliative care volunteers across the district, and we are always looking for more. There are many roles for volunteers within hospice palliative care.  Our palliative care volunteers are skilled in working with others, friendly, open and good listeners. They are non-judgmental with a sense of humour, treating all people with respect and true affection. Our Society provides funding support for the volunteer training programs, uniforms, baking supplies and other items for special events. 

Community Helping Hands Program

COMMUNITY HELPING HANDS PROGRAM

Not everyone is comfortable around death and dying but most people do want to help.  Our Community Helping Hands Program is an opportunity for people to assist our patients and their families without having to be hands on in the home or at the bedside in a healthcare facility.  These volunteers have the time, skills, tools, and abilities to assist with everyday tasks that our Palliative Care patients may be concerned about.  Some of these tasks could include:

  • Dog walking
  • Shopping/running errands
  • Gardening
  • Yard work/lawn mowing/shoveling snow/plowing driveways.
  • Putting up outdoor holiday decorations
  • Cooking/baking (and dropping off to the door)

TIME COMMITMENT:  Varies

TRAINING:  Brief education re:  Confidentiality, Philosophy of Palliative Care, Guidelines & Boundaries

LOCATION:  Your local community

Please watch this video to see how YOU can help your community and our Palliative Care Patients here in Cape Breton!

https://vimeo.com/991658429/03584e21a3?share=copy

If you are interested in taking part in this program, please fill out the brief application form   HERE  and return in one of the following ways:

                Hospice Cape Breton
6 Charles Herney Awti
Membertou, NS  B1S 0J4

If you have questions about the program, please email lisa.mcneil-campbell@nshealth.ca or call 902-539-1742.

Why Volunteer?

Benefits of volunteering are many, however, there are none better than the knowledge that giving your time can improve the quality of life for a palliative care patient, their caregiver, and family during a vulnerable time. Other benefits include becoming part of a supportive team, increasing your personal development and the opportunities you will have to meet some memorable and very inspiring people.

 

Ways to Volunteer?

We have numerous dedicated and compassionate volunteers across the district however our Society has a need for 100 – 150 more.

There are many roles for people interested in volunteering including:

• Palliative Care Patient Visitor Volunteers

• Community Patient Visitor Volunteers

• Community Helping Hands Volunteers

• Palliative Care Professional Services Volunteers

• Hospice Reception Volunteers

• End-of-life Comfort Volunteers

Each volunteer role has specific needs, responsibilities, and training requirements. For more information you can view Volunteer Services.

Volunteer Onboarding

For more information on becoming a volunteer, please contact the Palliative Care Volunteers Program Lead by email at lisa.mcneil-campbell@nshealth.ca or by filling out the volunteer application form. Volunteers are selected through an interview process.

Upon passing the interview process, you will be asked to go through the regular Nova Scotia Health Authority’s volunteer screening process (including criminal record check, child abuse registry check, and reference checks).

Once you are accepted as a Volunteer you will be required to complete the volunteer orientation program and if, relevant, the training you require for the volunteer role you have chosen.  

There is no cost to volunteers for any training.

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