THUNDER BAY – Supporting someone who is in palliative or end-of-life care can be arduous, and it certainly carries a heavy mental load as well. It's why Hospice Northwest is looking for volunteers to offer companionship to those who are dying. as well as those grieving a lost loved one.
The organization has launched a call for volunteers, saying they are highly needed, especially Indigenous companions and those who can speak a second language.
Those who take on the role receive upwards of 60 hours of training, including how to be a companion to someone reaching the end of their life, how to communicate with those who have dementia, and how to react in an emergency, and more.
Volunteer coordinator Melissa Hazen says being a companion is more than just sitting with someone; it's about making a connection. While the agency doesn't handle cash, volunteers are able to help those needing to run errands like grocery shopping. They can provide friendship and connection at a time when many don't think of making new friends.
Hazen emphasized that volunteers aren't medical professionals, nor are they therapists; they are there to provide a listening ear for someone grieving the loss of a loved one or for someone approaching their end of life.
Being a non-denominational agency, Hospice Northwest volunteers are also trained on MAID (medical assistance in dying), and how relatives and clients might be in the process of grieving before their final days.
While Hospice Northwest is headquartered in Thunder Bay, it also offers regional services in communities across the entire District of Thunder Bay.
Being a hospice volunteer can be very involved, while other clients wish to have fewer visits or simply phone calls. Oftentimes, caregivers are given the chance to have a few minutes of relief knowing that someone is with their loved one so they themselves can take time to have a shower, run their own errands and not feel guilty about not being there.
While being a companion to someone at the end of their life can be very rewarding, it can take its toll as well, said Hazen. Hospice Northwest provides training and care addressing those issues for volunteers, she noted.
There are also monthly meetings for volunteers to get together to talk about any obstacles they've experienced while being a companion, as well as opportunities to talk about how a short-term friendship has impacted their lives. It's common for the companions to build a community of support with their colleagues through many team building and appreciation events.