Nine community members recently completed Miles and St. Andrews Home Health & Hospice Patient Volunteer class of 2015.

The purpose of the 20-hour hospice volunteer training is to prepare volunteers to provide companionship to terminally ill patients, as well as respite care for their primary caregivers. Instructors for the training included Lincoln County Healthcare medical and social service professionals and religious leaders including hospice medical director Dr. John M. Dickens, hospice chaplain Rev. Dr. Kenneth Dale, Kirsten Skorpen, LMSW, and Deb Talacko, R.N. , as well as Michael Hall and Carol Perry from Hall’s Funeral Home.

“The students who attended this training came from diverse backgrounds, educations and experiences,” Connie Jones, Hospice and Bereavement Volunteer Coordinator said. “What they have in common is their keen interest in helping others.”

Retired internist Dr. Bernard Slosberg from Damariscotta took the training and plans to work as a hospice volunteer in Lincoln County and in the Washington DC area where he lives during the winter.

“Before I retired, I was a really good doctor, and few of my patients died,” Dr. Slosberg said. “I decided to become a hospice volunteer and take this training because in April, I experienced a death in my own family. I reflected back on that experience and wanted to volunteer to be of help to others in a new and very meaningful way.”

“I believe much of my life has led me to do this kind of volunteer work,” Retired early-child educator, Sharon Adair from Nobleboro said. “Years ago, I read Elizabeth Kubler Ross’ book ‘On Death and Dying’ and recently, I cared for a family member who was dying. The book and my experience caring for loved one who was dying had a profound effect on me.”

A book also inspired retired business owner and Boothbay resident Diane Schyberg to take the training. Schyberg reported: “I recently read ‘Being Mortal,’ by Atul Gawande. I wish I had read it before my own parents passed. The book led me to take the training and to my wish to bring comfort and peace to others as a hospice volunteer.”

In addition to the 20 hours of classroom training, each prospective hospice volunteer must complete a formal interview, background and reference checks and a health screening prior to becoming certified as a hospice volunteer. Once certification is complete, hospice volunteers work in the homes of dying patients.

“The philosophy of hospice is that it affirms life, and our volunteers join the patient’s team of family, friends, physicians, nurses, aides and social workers who care for them in the last stages of an incurable disease so that they can live as fully and comfortably as possible,” Jones said.

Some of the ways hospice volunteers serve patients and family are companionship, friendly visiting, active listening, letter writing or sharing hobbies and special interests. For more information about Miles and St. Andrews Home Health & Hospice programs and services, upcoming events, or volunteer opportunities, call 207-563-4592.