Submitted by UPMC
CENTRE COUNTY — April is Volunteer Recognition Month, and Family Hospice, Part of UPMC, gratefully acknowledges the dedicated volunteers who support Family Hospice patients and family members. Volunteers provide essential comfort and compassion for patients who have life-limiting illnesses for and their caregivers.
“Volunteers are an integral part of the Family Hospice team,” Carole Palmer, volunteer and bereavement coordinator, said. “Our compassionate volunteers offer empathy and companionship to both the patient and their loved ones during a difficult time. Many of our volunteers have also walked this road with their loved ones, making them the perfect person for the job. I am honored to be working with such great volunteers.”
The Centre County Family Hospice team includes Christy Clapper of Boalsburg, Jeannie Field of Bellefonte, Pamela Meyer of State College, Vicky Schirm of State College, Vicki Vogtman of Bellefonte and Dennis Wichterman of State College.
Family Hospice volunteers embrace the opportunity and privilege to support patients and their caregivers through a significant and inevitable season of life. Hospice volunteers make an impact in various ways, such as visiting with patients, providing relief for caregivers, assisting with clerical tasks as needed, making phone calls, communicating with grieving family members and more. Family Hospice is recruiting additional volunteers to join the current team.
After experiencing Family Hospice care for her father, Clapper wanted to be part of bringing comfort to others. She joined the Family Hospice volunteer team more than two years ago and now gives her time to share bereavement notes to family members who have lost a loved one to death.
“When my father was struggling through Parkinson’s disease, and then near the end of his life, Family Hospice was instrumental in making his life more comfortable by providing loving care, terrific nurses, supplies and other services,” Clapper shares. “I see my effort here as a small cog in the big wheel of service, love and care our clients receive from Family Hospice. I am happy to be even a tiny part of that process.”
Volunteer involvement is determined by the individual’s skills, desires and schedule. The time commitment for a volunteer can vary from several times per month to weekly. There are differing volunteer opportunities to match the strength and availability of volunteers. Specialized training is provided for new volunteers. For more information or to apply for serving as a Family Hospice volunteer, contact Palmer by phone at 814-569-9193 or email at palmerc5@upmc.edu.
