All Care Hospice honors volunteers

The Daily Item of Lynn / October 17, 2007

All Care Hospice, a non-profit organization, recently hosted an appreciation dinner to honor its hospice volunteers at Spinelli’s, Route 1 in Lynnfield. Twenty-five All Care Hospice volunteers attended, as well as executive personnel and staff members.

“It is with great pleasure that I salute All Care Hospice volunteers at tonight’s event,” said Shawn Potter, All Care President and CEO. “I am extremely grateful to all of you for your dedication, time, energy and expertise. With your help, we are able to bring compassionate care and support to the lives of those facing a life-limiting illness. On behalf of All Care Hospice and the communities we serve, thank you for your excellent work.”

All Care Hospice Volunteer Coordinator Jessica Contarino agreed.

“All Care Hospice volunteers are not only uniquely caring individuals, they are an integral part of our organization,” she said. “Volunteers join us for various reasons. Be it the loss of a loved one and the desire to help other patients and families approach the end-of-life, or to give back to the community in a meaningful way. At tonight’s Appreciation Dinner, I am honored to acknowledge each and every volunteer’s invaluable contribution, and to celebrate what they do for our patients and the community.”

Volunteers can directly support hospice patients and their families, run errands or assist in the administrative duties at All Care Hospice, 16 City Hall Square, Lynn, MA 01901.

Each assignment is unique and varies depending on the patient/family’s needs and the volunteer’s availability and interests. Patient care assignments may include providing companionship through conversation, reading aloud, reminiscing, watching movies/television, and doing hobbies/crafts and/or journaling. Other assignments aid the caregiver by running errands such as grocery shopping, light housekeeping, cooking and/or sitting with the patient while the caregiver attends to his/her own personal needs. Administrative tasks involve helping with community outreach and education programs. Volunteers do not have to provide medical or personal care to the patients and designate when and where they are assigned.

Hospice Volunteer Training Classes are offered at no cost. The next training class beings on October 30, 2007.

For more information on becoming an All Care Hospice Volunteer, please contact Contarino at 781-586-1608 ext 510.