Hospice Salutes its Volunteers During National Volunteer Week
(April 5, 2011) Barrington, IL— During National Volunteer Week, Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois (HPNI) saluted the approximate 430 trained hospice volunteers that provided more than 14,000 hours of service last year to its hospice programs.
National Volunteer Week, April 10-16, honors dedicated individuals offering support, companionship and hope to those facing a life-limiting illness, and gives them special recognition for the difference they make in America.
‘Hospice volunteers play an indispensable role in enabling our organization to offer the best care possible for patients living with life-limiting illness, their families and caregivers,” said J. Donald Schumacher, NHPCO president. “By sharing their time, energy, and expertise, volunteers bring compassion and caring to the lives of those in need.”
Last year, HPNI volunteers worked 14,296 hours, up more than 22 percent from 11,627 hours in 2009. HPNI volunteers assist in nearly every department, working with patients, assisting in the office, serving on agency boards and committees, helping plan and work at special events, and assisting at memorial services.
It is federally mandated under Medicare that five percent of all patient care hours be provided by trained volunteers. This regulation reflects the vital role that volunteers play in the hospice philosophy of care and ensures that a hospice program has roots deep in the community. HPNI’s volunteers provided 10 percent of patient care services in 2010.
The numbers add up very quickly when you have such dedicated individuals, such as:
- Dee Fritsch of Woodstock worked every Saturday and Sunday in 2010 at the Woodstock Inpatient Unit, compiling 480 hours of service
- Liz & Peter Nelson of Island Lake worked as a couple on Tuesdays in the Pepper Family Hospice Home in Barrington since it opened in July, 2010, totaling 40 hours
- Pam Zwieg of Barrington volunteered on Mondays at the Pepper Family Hospice Home, for 60 hours
- Jill Des Jardins of Barrington volunteered with dementia patients at Lutheran Home senior living community, totaling 105 hours
- Con Hallahan of Palatine visited the same patient throughout 2010 at Lutheran Home, totaling 265 hours
- Bill Reddy of Sleepy Hollow volunteered with patients in long term care facilities, totaling 150 hours
- Karen Bauder of Mount Prospect volunteered with patients at their homes, for 295 hours
- Volunteers with the Barrington Garden Class donated 360 hours to make flower arrangements for patients
- Lorna Lajcik, Marie Schaack, Joan Johnson, Myra Buettner, Sharon Levi, Sarah Townsley, Ginny Shapiro, Dave Loftis, Charlie Vogel, Joan King, Joan Keane, Nancy Balis, Ray Wilke, who combined provided 1,885 hours of organizational support to HPNI’s bereavement department
- And of course our four-legged canine volunteers and their owners volunteered 270 hours providing Pet Therapy to patients and families.
“HPNI is fortunate to have so many dedicated volunteers,” said HPNI Volunteer Coordinator Janice Farrell. “The commitment and compassion of our volunteers is remarkable.”
It would have cost the agency $321,669 to pay for this amount of work if done by employees, as valued by the Independent Sector, a consortium of non-profit organizations and foundations that determine value of volunteer time.
The increase in hours this year was due in part to the opening of the new Pepper Family Hospice Home and Center for Care in Barrington, at which volunteers provide service in its inpatient unit, and where volunteers assisted at many grand opening events and tours. The increase is also attributed to the increase in the number of patients served by HPNI and the need for assistance with these patients.
HPNI is actively recruiting new volunteers in DuPage, Kane counties. For information, please contact Farrell at JFarrell@HospiceAnswers.org, 224-770-2477.
