COUNTYWIDE : Volunteers Sought for Hospice Work

The Visiting Nurse Assn. of Orange County is seeking volunteers to work with hospice patients.

Volunteers take six orientation classes to prepare to give emotional support to terminally ill patients and their families.

The workshops cover concepts of death and dying, communication and listening skills, medical aspects of terminal illness and dealing with grief and bereavement, said Emmie Steineman, the program’s coordinator.

The first training class will be held Wednesday from 7 to 9:30 p.m. and the last on May 22.

“A big part of being a hospice volunteer is just being there,” Steineman said. “We assign them to a patient family, and they go into the home and run errands.

“They can’t do hands-on medical care, but they can help with relaxation and gentle exercises.”

The organization currently has 55 hospice volunteers throughout the county.

“Our philosophy is that hospice patients should go on living life as fully as possible under the circumstances,” Steineman said.

“We need volunteers to help provide comfort and care.”

For further information, call (714) 288-4538.