This innovative program matches volunteers with Hospice patients to create a “product” designed to commemorate the highlights of the patient’s life story. Depending on the person, this could be a photo album, a Life Story Board, or, in the near future, a CD.
During end of life, people naturally spend a significant amount of time reflecting on their life. This process is known as “Life Review.” The “My Life Story” program enhances this process for the patient and forges a bond between the participants.
“My Life Story” has two components, one for teens and one for adults:
Teens. High school juniors and seniors visit Hospice patients living in long-term care facilities. First, the students complete a 16-hour Hospice training/orientation, during which the group is divided into pairs. Each pair is assigned to an adult mentor who is a Patient Care volunteer. When the students visit the facility, the mentor meets with them before and after they visit with the patient.
This Capital Hospice program was piloted with Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax, Virginia. It has been so successful that it is being expanded to other local high schools. In many cases, teens and patients have become friends, continuing the visits after the official part of the program has ended.
One student says she volunteers because exposure to death will help her gain a better understanding of life. “You don’t just sit around the dinner table and say, ‘Let’s talk about death and dying,’” she says. “I know I can’t change anything, like making the patient get better. But these people need you and you can touch someone else’s life.”
Adults. Specially-trained adult volunteers individually visit Hospice patients being cared for at home.
A Hospice volunteer with a background in media currently is designing a training program to teach adult volunteers how to do oral histories. The goal will be to present the patient and loved ones with a CD containing the patient’s story in their own words plus photographs from their personal collection.
You can apply right now by downloading the application packet and returning the completed forms to us.
For more information please contact Volunteer Relations.
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Download application packet