By Nicole Beeney
Volunteer Coordinator, Life Hospice
Life Hospice, located at 70 S. Orange Ave in Livingston, and serving Morris, Somerset, Essex, Bergen, Union, and Passaic Counties, is looking for caring individuals to help provide the support needed to patients and their families during the last phases of life in a variety of ways.
Life Hospice is a division of Life Health Group, which also includes Life Home Care, Life Ride, Life DME (Durable Medical Equipment), and Life Home Therapy. Life Home Care’s services include providing certified home health aides who assist with the client’s activities of daily living such as dressing, bathing, ambulation, and companionship. Life Ride helps seniors and people with disabilities with transportation to appointments. Life DME offers medical equipment, such as wheelchairs, hospital beds, and oxygen at home. Life Home Therapy provides in-home physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology to help individuals regain their lifestyle after an injury, illness, or surgery.
Life Hospice is the newest branch of care offered by Life Health Group, providing compassionate support to patients and their families during the end-of-life journey. Life Hospice’s interdisciplinary approach works to ensure that every patient’s physical, emotional, and spiritual needs are met.
There are many different ways a volunteer can help in hospice care. Patient and family support includes sitting with a patient and providing companionship, reading or listening to music, doing a puzzle, playing card games, or simply sitting quietly while family members can take a break. There are also opportunities to help in the Life Hospice office, located in Livingston, NJ, by assembling mailing packets, making phone calls, or inventorying supplies. Certified Reiki practitioners, massage therapists, pet therapists, and hair stylists would all be welcome additions to the volunteer team; these volunteers must be certified or licensed.
There are opportunities available for anyone who wishes to donate their time. Volunteers decide what amount of time they are able to give and scheduling is flexible. Life Hospice provides comprehensive training to all volunteers. Volunteers are asked to undergo a criminal background check and obtain medical clearance, as well as complete a Hospice Orientation prior to starting with the Life Hospice team.
Offering just a few hours a week can make a tremendous difference in someone’s life. Please contact Nicole Beeney, Volunteer Coordinator, at Nicole.Beeney@hospicecare.life or 973-500-2532 for more information, or visit www.hospicecare.life.
