Consider volunteering with Hospice this National Volunteer Month

   Hospice of Rutherford County began serving patients with life limiting illnesses and their families in 1982.  Hospice of Rutherford County is an accredited, state-of-the art health care organization that provides physical, emotional and spiritual care in homes, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and the 18-suite Hospice House. HORC is consistently among the top 10most utilized hospices in the state serving more than 50 percent of all deaths in the county. HORC is also among the top three providers of crisis care in the state, meaning that an HORC staff member or volunteer is present with the patient and family during a medical crisis.

Volunteers in the community started the organization, and Hospice of Rutherford County volunteers continue to be critical members of this team of professionals. In 2014, more than100 volunteers provided 25,254 hours and drove 85,050 to care for the 789 patients and provide the support necessary for the organization to fulfill its mission.

All types of volunteers are essential to the existence of Hospice. Whatever your talents or skills, Hospice can utilize to bring “life to the fullest” to our patient/families, and Hospice is constantly in need of additional volunteers. In addition to office and “traditional” patient volunteers, massage therapists, musicians, beauticians, pet therapists, many others are needed. The Hospice Faith in Action program is designed to ensure that every congregation in the community has a representative who serves as a liaison between Hospice and the church so that people receive care sooner. The Hospice Resale shops in Forest City and Marion are primarily staffed by volunteers who sort clothes and run the cash registers to fulfill the mission that everyone can be cared for at the hospice house regardless of the ability to pay. HORC has 11th hour volunteers you may see at Rutherford Hospital in their blue coats who are there to comfort patients and families in their time of need. The Hospice House has volunteers who answer the phone, attend to the snacks and ice in the patient rooms.  

Many of our volunteers say they get back more than they give, and the staff at hospice finds these folks quite intriguing. The hospice volunteer is considered a professional volunteer in the fact we have a specialized training and offer continuing education. Different volunteer positions with the organization will dictate the training needed. We are in need of special friends who may occasionally visit a patient or run an errand. If you have a talent of quilting, scrap booking, photography or audio recording we could utilize your talent for our life review program with our patients to leave a memory for their family. You may have a heart for the special veteran and we can use you there. 

As we have said, for over 33 years, the volunteer is “the heart of hospice,” and the organization is constantly in need of more to expand the mission of caring for as many people as possible as soon as they need assistance.