Ascension at Home is offering a class soon to train the always-in- demand hospice volunteer.
Hospice is medical care to help someone with a terminal illness live as well as possible for as long as possible.
Mary Ellen Kaminski is hospice coordinator for Ascension at Home hospice and Dr. Kate's Hospice with offices in Arbor Vitae and Rhinelander.
The hospice training program for volunteers is called "Making Every Moment Matter"..
"..The classes are five weeks long from 9:30 a.m. to noon beginning March 18. We go through many different topics. The first four weeks we strictly go through what hospice is all about..."
The classes are led by professionals. There is a requirement of 16 hours of class time to become a volunteer, but Kaminski says it's a great learning experience for anyone who might have a loved one nearing the end of life..
"So volunteers are very important and they bring interesting visits to the patients. They're not ones who will be giving them showers or prodding or poking. They're just going to visit and play games or help with household chores..."
The next 5 week session will be at the Ascension at Home office in Rhinelander. The class is free to attend, but preregistration is required by March 11. To register, contact Mary Ellen Kaminski at 800-234-3542 or email at maryellen.kaminski@ahah.net
