Palliative Care Volunteer Services
The purpose of Palliative Care Volunteer Service is to complement the existing professional services and resources to provide emotional, psychosocial and spiritual support for palliative care clients and their families.
Palliative Care Volunteers can Provide
Palliative Care Volunteers can provide service in the client’s home, hospital or healthcare facility. Volunteers may be called upon to provide:
- Companionship: spending time with the client, this may include: holding their hand, reading, listening to music, playing card games or looking at photos.
- Emotional Support: encourage the client to tell their story and share their feelings.
- Practical Support: provide information, resources and other forms of practical support to assist the client and their family.
- Caregiver Respite: stay with the client for short periods of time, allowing the caregiver to rest or attend to other duties.
- End of Life Sitting Service: provide vigil support to the client at the very end of life so that the client does not die alone or to relieve family from the bedside.
- Bereavement Support: provide or assist with accessing grief and bereavement support
- Advocacy: promote palliative care awareness in the local community and participate in various fundraising and educational activities.
Referrals to Palliative Care Volunteer Services:
Clients and caregivers who wish to access volunteer services can speak with their Palliative Care Coordinator or inquire at their local health care facility. Volunteers are only contacted upon the request of client or family.
Our Compassionate Communities
Prairie Mountain Health is grateful to the many community-based organizations that partner with us to provide Palliative Care Volunteer Service. All volunteers are registered and receive special training in palliative and end of life care.
Thank you to our valued community partners:
- Birtle Palliative Care Committee
- Boissevain Palliative Care Committee
- Carberry Palliative Care Committee
- Deloraine Palliative Care Committee
- Erickson and District Palliative Care Committee
- Glenboro Palliative Care Committee
- Hamiota Palliative Care Committee
- Killarney Palliative Care Committee
- Melita Palliative Care Committee
- Minnedosa Palliative Care Committee
- Neepawa and District Palliative Care Committee
- Reston Palliative Care Committee
- Riverdale Palliative Care Committee
- Rossburn Palliative Care Committee
- Russell Palliative Care Committee
- Shoal Lake Palliative Care Committee
- Souris Palliative Care Committee
- Virden and Area Palliative Care Committee
- Westman Hospice (Brandon)
To Become a Volunteer
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please contact the Prairie Mountain Health Volunteer and Bereavement Coordinator by calling 204-578-2310.