United Way Recognizes Hospice Volunteer Program
VNA Care Hospice, part of VNA Care Network, was recently honored by the United Way of Massachusetts Bay Committee on Professional Standards in Volunteer Management for running a "model" volunteer program.
Hospice volunteers offer practical and emotional support to terminally ill patients and their families and are an important part of the hospice teams, which also include nurses, social workers, home care aides, pastoral and bereavement counselors, and patients' physicians. Hospice is provided in patients' homes and in three home-like hospice residences, Chilton House in Cambridge, Tippett Home in Needham, and the Hospice Residence on Coes Pond in Worcester.
"The United Way views volunteer involvement as an essential part in helping an agency move forward in meeting its overall mission, and that is certainly evident here," said Grace O'Donnell, co-chair of the United Way of Massachusetts Bay Committee on Professional Standards in Volunteer Management, who presented VNA Care Hospice with the Certificate of Achievement in Professional Standards.
To be considered for the certificate, volunteer programs must complete a self-assessment tool developed by the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and demonstrate through documentation and interviews that it successfully meets the United Way's standards in the areas of leadership, volunteer management and volunteer support systems.
"More than 50 agencies have submitted the self-assessment surveys. (VNA Care Hospice is) currently only one of five who have completely met all of these standards. (VNA Care Hospice's) exemplary volunteer program will serve as a model for other volunteer programs," said O'Donnell as she presented the certificate of achievement to the agency.
BECOME A VOLUNTEER
For more information about hospice volunteer opportunities, please contact the hospice volunteer coordinator in your area:
- Central Massachusetts: Debbie McGrail at dmcgrail@vnacarenetwork.org or 888-663-3688, ext. 6887.
- Cambridge/Needham/MetroWest area: Nancy Barcelo at nbarcelo@vnacarenetwork.org or 888-663-3688, ext. 4271.
- North Shore/Cape Ann/Merrimack Valley: Susan Smith at ssmith@vnacarenetwork.org or 888-663-3688, ext. 1402.
SERVICE INFORMATION
For more information about hospice, home health care, and wellness programs, contact VNA Care Network & at 800-728-1862.
Posted: June 20, 2003
Updated: Dec. 21, 2004