Providing Dignity,
Comfort, and
Inner Peace

67 Walnut Ave., Suite 205,
Clark, NJ 07066
Phone (732) 381 3444
Fax (732) 381 3445
Email homesidehospice@aol.com

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Homeside Hospice provides specialized health care services that focus on pain relief, symptom control, comfort and support for terminally ill patients. Our goal is to provide individuals with the highest possible level of physical, emotional and practical support necessary during this time.

As a volunteer you will provide supplemental quality of life services to patients and to our staff. Your efforts will provide the sort of care and help that a loving friend provides and help insure that the Hospice promise is fulfilled.

You may volunteer in various needed roles:

• Provide companionship to a patient
• Provide support to the family after the patient dies
• Provide alternative therapies, such as music therapy, pet therapy, and reiki
• Include patients in your prayers
• Knit, weave, sew shawls, lap blankets, and other articles for patients
• Provide administrative help

Companionship

As a companion to a patient, you can provide many services. You can provide respite for the caregiver. You can simply pay friendly visits and be a listener. You can read to patients and write letters for patients. You can play cards or other games. You can bring flowers. You can run errands for a patient. You can listen to music together. You talk about current events and watch television together. You walk together. You pray together (if it’s the patient’s wish) and hold their hand. After the patient dies you would continue contact with the family through bereavement. Your commitment would be 1 to 3 hours a week.

Alternative Therapies

Do you have a special talent or skill that you can offer to a patient? Many patients will benefit from aromatherapy, pet therapy, art therapy, and music therapy. You may be called on to provide therapy to a patient in the home or to the residents of a nursing home with which Homeside Hospice has a contract.

Music Therapy. Music is one of the deepest experiences a human can have. Often patients who are not able to communicate will enjoy music. If you a harpist, a flutist, a singer or play another instrument, you can enhance the quality of life of a patient immensely.

Pet Therapy. If you have a certified therapy pet, you and your pet can provide a loving experience for patients often isolated from nature.

Reiki. If you are a certified Reiki practitioner, you can offer a deep, meditative experience for patients often bereft of human contact.

Spiritual Services

Hospice also provides spiritual care for a patient. You can contribute to this care in many ways. If you belong to a prayer shawl ministry, you can include Homeside patients in your shawl ministry. You can keep Homeside patients in your prayers. If you have a youth group, your youth group can adopt Homeside patients, sending them holiday and birthday cards, making crafts for them, praying for them, and otherwise keeping in touch with them.

Administrative

Like any organization we have many administrative tasks. If you have office skills, you can volunteer to provide office support.

Areas of Service

Homeside Hospice serves Central and North Jersey. Areas where you are needed include:

• Middlesex - Somerset Counties
• Monmouth County
• Union County
• Mercer County
• Essex – South Passaic Counties
• Morris – Bergen – North Passaic Counties
• Hudson County

Becoming a Volunteer

You can become a volunteer by:

• signing up by calling the Hospice office
• completing training on the philosophy and vision of Hospice, basic infection control, and disease progression
• having a sincere desire to help others
• not actively grieving a recent death
• being able to keep all information regarding patients and families confidential

You will then be added to our volunteer corps. When a patient is brought into our program and wants a volunteer from your area, you will be assigned to the patient.