Family Centered Hospice
Organization Address:
2171 Executive Drive, Suite 450
Addison, IL 60101
Name and Position of Contact Person:
Hazel Teichen, Volunteer Coordinator
Phone Number:
Work: (630) 317-3300
E-mail Address:
hteichen@familyhhs.com
Website Address:
www.familyhhs.com
Days/Hours Available for Service Learners:
Hospice service provided 24/7.
Normal business hours Monday-Friday 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM.
Description of Organization:
Family Centered Hospice, a division of Family Home Health Services, Inc., serves patients and their families in twelve Illinois counties. Family Centered Hospice provides physical, emotional and spiritual support to persons who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and have been given a prognosis of six months or less to live. Our hospice professionals trained in end-of-life care focus on palliative care for our patients (comfort, dignity, hope, pain management, and symptom control) and emotional psychosocial support for the family.
Description of Service Learner Role:
Select College of DuPage students have opportunities to serve as hospice volunteers and receive experience in patient and family care, bereavement support, community outreach, operations support, end-of-life care education, attend field trips and receive mentoring in the field of death and dying. Upon completion of the initial training program, students will learn as they serve in one or more of the following areas:
* Direct Patient Visits: Students will visit terminally ill patients for 1-2 hours per week and help them and their families maintain hope, independence, dignity and respect during one of the most significant transitions in life.
* Administrative Support: Students will provide support to the hospice team by helping in our office with filing, mailings, data entry and other tasks. Or you may be asked to participate in our community outreach by helping post hospice volunteer flyers, help pass out information at senior fairs, or help with presentation and community education programs.
* Bereavement Support: Attendance of wakes and funerals, making follow-up phone calls to bereaved families in coordination with our bereavement department (after receiving specialized training we will provide you), and participation in our annual memorial service fall under bereavement support.
Organization Requirements:
Students should have the following skills/characteristics to apply for this service learning opportunity:
* Have not experienced a personal loss within your immediate family within the past year.
* Compassion, empathy, and sensitivity to other's needs.
* Ability to listen quietly and non-judgmentally.
* Desire to learn about the unique needs of the dying person and their loved ones.
* Reliable transportation, valid drivers license and proof of automobile insurance.
* Ability to follow-through.
* Ability to honor confidentiality and privacy practices.
Steps to participating in this service learning opportunity:
* Complete and submit application.
* Phone or in-person interview.
* (If accepted into the program) Attend 5 hour orientation class.
* Attend additional select in-services as agreed upon.
* Serve in the volunteer capacity for agreed upon hours per week.
The initial five hour in-depth orientation class includes training in privacy practices, hospice history and philosophy of care, communication skills, emotional support, faith & spiritual sensitivity, and bereavement support. On-going volunteer support via supervisory visits, monthly educational seminars, field trips, quarterly newsletter, interdisciplinary team meetings, appreciation events and more are provided. Additionally, you will receive your own hospice handbook (which includes a journal selection you will use to record your growth, thoughts and learning experiences).
Number of Placements Available:
12
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