Opportunities From: VolunteerME Mid Coast Maine

Do you love to knit or crochet?

Our Peaceful Passages program provides special packages to Hospice patients that are designed to offer comfort to patients and their families at the end of life. Each special package includes an angel token, a worry stone with a special message, a candle, and a booklet of poems and prayers with a space for patients to write their thoughts, memories and feelings and a handmade comfort shawl. Each shawl is labeled “This comfort shawl was handmade for you with prayers and thoughts of love.” We have patterns available, though we also invite volunteers to use their own patterns as long as they fit within the general framework of dimensions that we will provide. Our goal is for the shawls to wrap comfortably without a patient having to hold on to them. We very much appreciate the variety of colors, patterns and textures that we receive in our donated shawls.

 

How would I know if I’m a good fit for this?

If you enjoy handcrafting things, know how to knit or crochet and would like to help someone feel cozy, comforted and thought of at the end of their life, then this is the perfect job for you.

 

Training Requirement:  No required training.

 

Ongoing Commitment: No ongoing commitment. We would appreciate as many or as few shawls as you wish to make!

 

Dates/Times Available: Knit or crochet wherever and whenever you’re comfortable, on your own or in a group.

 

Next Steps:  Respond here and we will follow up by phone. We will also provide the basic parameters and process needed for our shawls. If you would like a knitting or crochet pattern, we have those available as well. We also invite you to visit our website at www.ahch.org for more information on our organization.

 

 

Thank you for considering volunteering with

Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice

Are you interested in supporting someone through the grieving process?

As part of our ongoing services for our Hospice patients, we provide bereavement support to their loved ones during the year after the Hospice patient has died. Some of our volunteers provide supportive phone calls, some provide supportive in-person meetings, some respond to requests to support a family in preparing for an upcoming loss and others help with mailings and events. We also have periodic openings for facilitators for our grief support groups. In addition, many volunteers help make Camp Dragonfly, a day-long program for grieving children and teens, happen each year.

 

How would I know if I’m a good fit for this?

As with many of our volunteer opportunities, strong listening skills are key. You’ll also likely be a good fit if you enjoy getting to know people and are comfortable being with them during a variety of stages through the grieving process. Our volunteers may be matched with a patient’s loved one a day after the patient has died or months later. In-person meetings might take place in a coffee shop, other public place, or in the patient’s home. In addition to listening and providing support, volunteers sometimes also help connect individuals with other helpful resources. Depending on your comfort level and preferences, you may be matched with survivors of any age.

 

Training Requirement:  Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice provides 12 hours of Bereavement training, 3 hours of General Volunteer training, a background check and TB testing at no cost to you. Training is typically offered twice a week for three hours over the course of two weeks. Individuals interested in co-facilitating a grief support group are provided an additional 12 of hours of Bereavement Facilitator training. Any volunteers who wish to work with Camp Dragonfly must also complete a Department of Health and Human Services background check, also offered by Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice at no cost to you.

 

Ongoing Commitment: At least two hours per week for one year

 

Dates/Times Available: Most needs are for weekday visits. Support groups are offered at both daytime and evening hours during the week.

 

Next Steps: Respond here and we will schedule a time to talk with you by phone to review options and share upcoming training times. We also invite you to visit our website at www.ahch.org for more information on our organization.

 

Special Note: We ask that anyone who has experienced a significant loss themselves wait at least 1 year before doing Bereavement volunteering.

 

 

Thank you for considering volunteering with

Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice

Are you a military veteran?

Are you interested in serving as good company for our patients who are veterans and/or recognizing their military service?

As a proud partner in the We Honor Veterans program, we are always seeking veteran volunteers who would be willing to volunteer with other veteran patients. This might mean connecting with terminally ill veteran patients by phone or visiting with them where they live. Our veteran Hospice patients also have the opportunity to have their military service recognized through a special pinning ceremony offered by our veteran volunteers. These experiences are frequently very meaningful to the patient, his or her family and our veteran volunteers.

 

How would I know if I’m a good fit for this?

As with our other Hospice volunteering opportunities, great listening skills are essential for this role. Our Veteran-to-Veteran program also requires volunteers to be sensitive to the wide variety of military experiences that our veteran patients have had, a range of perspectives on that service and very individualized needs in terms of how that service impacts patients and their families at the end of life. Our patients are also looking for good company, so you’re likely a good fit for this if you enjoy getting to know people and learning about their life. In addition to discussing military history and its impact, our patients might request someone who would be willing to read to them, engage in cards or games, chat with them (maybe even in French), help with cards or letters or sometimes just sit together. Visits may also provide respite time so that family members who are the patients’ primary caregivers are able to get well-deserved breaks. If you’re looking for a compassionate way to honor and respect fellow veterans at the end of their lives, we invite you to consider joining us.

 

Training Requirement:  Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice provides 20 hours of comprehensive Hospice training (which includes a component of veteran-specific training), a background check and TB testing at no cost to you. The usual training structure for the 20 hours of Hospice training is two training sessions per week for several weeks, with each session lasting three to four hours.

 

Ongoing Commitment  At least two hours per week for one year

 

Dates/Times Available: Most needs are for weekday visits, though veteran pinning ceremonies are sometimes requested on weekends when a patient would like more loved ones to be present.

 

Next Steps:  Respond here and we will schedule a time to talk with you by phone to review options and share upcoming training times. We also invite you to visit our website at www.ahch.org for more information on our organization.

 

Special Note: We ask that anyone who has experienced the recent loss of a loved one wait 1 year before doing Hospice volunteering.

 

Thank you for considering volunteering with

Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice

Are you a person who enjoys:

Bringing order to things?

Connecting with patients by phone?

Utilizing your computer skills?

Helping to get mailings out the door?

If so, you will enjoy volunteering in our offices. There are a wide range of projects that you can support, ranging from filing, preparing packets for patients, organizing materials for volunteer trainings, entering data into a variety of spreadsheets, making phone calls to check on patient satisfaction or patient needs, helping to get mailings out or any number of other projects. You’ll be matched with specific projects based on your interests, experience and schedule.

 

How would I know if I’m a good fit for this?

The answer really varies on this one. If you enjoy connecting with people on the phone, you’d likely be a good fit for some of our phone check-ins. Some of our happiest office project volunteers are people who love to take ownership of getting a project completed, a mailing sent out or packets ready for whoever needs them next. Other office volunteers really enjoy the chance to work with other volunteers and work as a team on whatever needs to be done that week. If you enjoy word processing and/or spreadsheet work, we often have both short-term and ongoing work using those skills. And if you have an eye for color and design, we sometimes have special projects that could benefit from those skills, too. Technical skills can be a plus as well. Again, we really work to match volunteers with the office projects that will be the best fit for them.

 

Training Requirement:    Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice provides six hours of training, a background check and TB testing at no cost to you.

 

 

 

Ongoing Commitment:     At least two hours per week for one year

 

Dates/Times Available:     Most needs are Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

 

Next Steps: Respond here and we will schedule a time to talk with you by phone to review options and share upcoming training times. We also invite you to visit our website at www.ahch.org for more information on our organization.

 

Thank you for considering volunteering with

Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice

Do you love to drive?

Our homebound patients sometimes need someone to give them a ride to important medical appointments. They also sometimes need help picking up medications or groceries. We will match you with patients in your area and also offer reimbursement for much of your mileage. Despite our fantastic network of volunteers, we often have transportation requests that we are unable to fill.

 

How would I know if I’m a good fit for this?

If you love to drive, you’re probably already a good fit. You can also appreciate how frustrating it can be for our patients when they are unable to take care of essential needs on their own. Patience is also another essential quality if you’re interested in volunteering as a driver. There are times when things don’t go exactly as planned, whether that might be a patient who gets confused or an appointment that takes longer than expected. We’ll always be here to back you up, but it’s helpful if you’re someone who is flexible. In exchange, you will get to meet some great people, make a real difference in someone’s ability to meet some key needs and get to spend some time behind the wheel.

 

Training Requirement:    Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice provides six hours of training, a background check and TB testing at no cost to you.

 

Ongoing Commitment:     At least two hours per week for one year

 

Dates/Times Available:     Most needs are for weekday appointments and pick-ups

 

Next Steps: Respond here and we will schedule a time to talk with you by phone to review options and share upcoming training times. We also invite you to visit our website at www.ahch.org for more information on our organization.

 

Special Note: Our volunteer drivers use their own vehicles, so in addition to a valid driver’s license and clean driving record, you need to have a vehicle in good working condition and up to date auto insurance.

 

Thank you for considering volunteering with

Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice

Are you interested in serving as good company for terminally ill patients?

We are always looking for compassionate individuals who are interested in supporting terminally ill patients in their homes, in nursing facilities or at our Hospice House. These volunteers provide vital companionship to patients and crucial respite breaks for caregivers. Some volunteers also assist with critical needs like grocery shopping, medication pick-up or transportation.

 

How would I know if I’m a good fit for this?

The most essential skill for this role is great listening skills. If you are someone who enjoys getting to know people, this is likely a good fit for you. In addition to trying to find opportunities to volunteer close to your home, we also match patients and volunteers based on interests and requests. This could include things like a shared interest in cribbage, the ability to speak (and sometimes sing) in French, openness to sitting outside in the sunshine, helping a patient record her/his life story for family members, reading aloud, helping write cards or letters, playing cards, scrapbooking or sometimes just sitting with someone. Patients sometimes have special outing wishes-—maybe a chance to have their favorite ice cream one last time. Many of our patients enjoy reflecting on their life experiences and are very appreciative of someone who is interested in listening.

 

Training Requirement:      Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice provides 20 hours of comprehensive Hospice training, a background check and TB testing at no cost to you. The usual training structure is two training sessions per week for several weeks, with each session lasting three to four hours.

 

Ongoing Commitment:     At least two hours per week for one year

 

Dates/Times Available:     Most needs are for weekday visits. The Hospice House does need volunteers from 4 to 8 p.m. to serve as greeters, assist in the kitchen and to visit patients. Individuals or small groups welcome for this.

 

Next Steps: Respond here and we will schedule a time to talk with you by phone to review options and share upcoming training times. We also invite you to visit our website at www.ahch.org for more information on our organization.

Special Note:  We ask that anyone who has experienced the recent loss of a loved one wait at least one year before becoming a Hospice volunteer.

 Thank you for considering volunteering

with Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice