No one knows exactly when they are going to die.
Knowing that the end is near, however, does have some advantages, as unlikely as that may sound.
A person who knows death is near can at least prepare for it.
To make that transition comfortable, people who work with Verde Valley Community Hospice Care help those nearing the end of life and their families.
The organization needs more volunteers willing to step up to help with the job.
It’s not the type of work that suits everyone, but for those who are able to do it, it can make all the difference in the world.
The work is part of the agency’s “Not alone in our community” initiative.
The program has around a dozen volunteers, said Barbara Wilson, the agency’s volunteer coordinator.
“People take time off if they are going to be on vacation or something,” Wilson said.
Most of the time, Wilson said that the agency uses a team approach to assist people nearing the end of their lives.
“We’re looking to add to that team,” Wilson said. “We’re looking for people who will be able to support each other.”
Wilson said that the volunteers go to a person’s home or sometimes to an assisted living center, depending on the situation.
“It’s a help for members of the family as well,” Wilson said. “The wife for instance can go out and go to the grocery store for an hour.”
Other work done by the volunteers can be simpler, like just reading to a person.
“Maybe they might not be able to see that well anymore and their favorite hobby used to be reading,” Wilson said. “A volunteer could read a mystery novel or something like that to them.”
Wilson said that the program is flexible when it comes to its volunteers.
“We try to match a person’s abilities and what they like to do to the needs of people,” Wilson said.
To read the full story, see the Wednesday, July 15, edition of the Cottonwood Journal Extra.
