Coastal Hospice honors its volunteers during National Volunteer Week April 18-24
SALISBURY, MD – April 15, 2021 – At Coastal Hospice, 204 trained volunteers give selflessly to help people live as fully as possible, even when facing a serious or life-limiting illness. National Volunteer Week provides the opportunity to recognize these important volunteers alongside the millions of Americans who provide volunteer service in communities across the country.
“Given that hospice volunteers accompany people along the journey of a serious illness, they serve an essential part in enabling Coastal Hospice to offer the best care possible,” said Renee Smith, Manager of Volunteer Services. “By sharing their time, energy, and expertise, our volunteers bring compassion and caring to the lives of those in need and we celebrate them not only during National Volunteer Week but every day.”
“Even now, when our volunteers can’t visit patients and their families in the home or at facilities as they used to before the pandemic, they are making a difference,” Smith continued. “Our volunteers have been busy making phone calls to patients and caregivers, delivering flowers, picking up groceries, making masks, blankets and Twiddlemuffs, offering We Honor Veteran calls, and assisting at the Thrift Shop.”
It is federally mandated under Medicare that five percent of all patient care hours be provided by trained volunteers, reflecting the vital role that volunteers play in the provision of care. But even if the integration of volunteers was not required, we would still consider them critical members of our team. Our community is a better, more compassionate place because of their service.
During National Volunteer Week, we honor and celebrate those caring individuals that do so much for so many – and their hospice heart.
For those interested in learning more about hospice volunteer opportunities, please contact Coastal Hospice Volunteer Services at 410-742-8732 or visit www.coastalhospice.org.
