Running head: THE LANGLEY HOSPICE HOME CARE PROGRAM

The Langley Hospice Home Care Program Student Name: Dermot Connolly Stenberg College Surrey BC 0312 NURS 212-6 (C) Don Scott April 2013.

THE LANGLEY HOSPICE HOME CARE PROGRAM The Langley Hospice Home Care Program The Langley Hospice Society was established in 1983 as a registered nonprofit organization committed to supporting people within the community who are living with life threatening illnesses. Their services are not restricted to the patients but also extend to their

families and friends whenever bereavement support is required. (Langley Hospice Society 2012). The Langley hospice society provides support within the community through the provision of trained volunteers who visit both the dying and bereaved providing them with practical and emotional support. They also run teen and children support groups led by trained professionals who provide counseling services for those struggling to cope and adapt with the grieving process. (Langley Hospice Society 2012). Volunteers have played a vital role in the day to day functioning of the society, where volunteers contribute more than 26,000 hours / year, the equivalent of 13 full time employees. (Langley Hospice Society 2011). The purpose of this presentation is to give an overview of the Langley Hospice Society, focusing specifically on their palliative and bereavement volunteer programs and how they relate to providing quality home care within the Langley community. Within the Langley Hospice, there are two categories of client volunteers serving both the palliative and bereaved adults; 1) bereavement client volunteers and 2) palliative client volunteers. A bereavement client volunteer provides one-on-one emotional, practical and social support to family and friends who have experienced the death of a loved one. The need for a bereavement client volunteer is assessed by the bereavement coordinator through their interactions with the bereaved client. Interactions between the bereavement volunteer and the client is determined by the client but typical meeting places include the family home, coffee shops or at the Langley Hospice offices. (Langley Hospice Society 2011).

THE LANGLEY HOSPICE HOME CARE PROGRAM Palliative client volunteers provide similar emotional, practical and social support for clients and families facing a life threatening illness. Like bereavement client volunteers, clients and their families meet with Langley hospice volunteers through a variety of settings including the clients home. (Langley Hospice Society 2011). One service offered by the palliative client

volunteer that differs from the bereavement client volunteer is the vigil service where volunteers visits with the client continuously during the last 72 hours of their life. This service is usually requested by clients who do not wish to die alone. (Langley Hospice Society 2011). In order to become a volunteer for the Langley Hospice Society, you must first complete a 30 hour training course, an orientation session and a criminal record check. All volunteers start on a three month probation period to ensure both the volunteer and the coordinating staff are comfortable with their assigned placement. (Langley Hospice Society 2011). The Langley Hospice Home Care Program begins when a referral is made to the palliative or bereavement program coordinator. The referral is typically made by the client, a family member, friend, social worker or doctor and requests the services of either a palliative or bereavement client volunteer. (Langley Hospice Society 2011). The request is responded to with 48 hours where the co coordinator assesses the needs of the client and family prior to assigning a volunteer. The volunteer will make contact with the client or family within 24 hours during which time both the client and the volunteer will determine if the wish to accept the referral. If the referral is accepted, the volunteer meets with the client or family member on a schedule agreed by both parties and in the case of the palliative client, the volunteer remains with the client at all times, regardless of the clients location (home / hospice). The volunteer reports back to their coordinator at least once / month on the status of the relationship between the client and the volunteer. (Langley Hospice Society 2011).

THE LANGLEY HOSPICE HOME CARE PROGRAM There are no set guidelines surrounding the initial contact between the client and the

volunteer but the Langley Hospice recommends that initial contact be made via a phone call. All visits must be made with the agreement of the client and the volunteers phone number should not be given until such time as the volunteer feels it is safe to do so. (Langley Hospice Society 2011). The fist home visit with the client or family member is an important one. The Langley Hospice emphasizes that the role of the volunteer is not to resolve the clients problems, but to actively listen with empathy. Importance is also placed on reading the clients body language, respecting their space and the appropriate use of touch such as hugging and holding of the clients hand. The initial visit is typically a short one where both the client and the volunteer get to know one another and journaling your thoughts and experiences are encouraged. (Langley Hospice Society 2011). Another important aspect of the hospice volunteer is that of self care. Volunteers will typically experience a wide range of emotions from job satisfaction, joy, helplessness, social anxiety and despair. To be an effective volunteer, you need to provide quality time with your client which can only be achieved if you are emotionally stable and replenished. (Langley Hospice Society 2011). For this reason, effective self care mechanisms are encouraged such as regular attendance at the volunteer support meetings, medication, journaling, relaxing and allocation of time away for yourself. (Langley Hospice Society 2011). Volunteering is one of the most fundamental acts of generosity in our society. It is the extension of oneself to the community where a person shares their time, energy and skills to other members of that same community. For the palliative or grieving client, this is particularly important, where emphasis on the empathy, comfort and support is reinforced through the home care programs. In Langley, these programs provide round the clock support to those struggling to

THE LANGLEY HOSPICE HOME CARE PROGRAM cope with a terminal illness or the passing of a loved one. These programs provide an important service to the community which would not be made possible if it were not for the continued support of the Langley community and the Langley Hospice Volunteers.

THE LANGLEY HOSPICE HOME CARE PROGRAM References: Langley Hospice Society (2012). A practical guide for families. Retrieved from: http://www.langleyhospice.com/A-Practical-Guide-for-Families.pdf

Langley Hospice Society (2011). Volunteer handbook, client volunteers palliative / bereavement program.