dignity when Northwest New Mexico Hospice is involved.
Hospice is an organization dedicated to providing comfort and support to those facing death from a terminal illness.
"A lot of people die alone," said Patricia Reading, director of Northwest New Mexico Hospice. "You should end your life with all of the dignity and love you had when you came in."
Hospice is a nonprofit agency that provides
everything from emotional support to nursing care, administration of medicines and hospital beds for those who want to die in their homes. Hospice volunteers fill every need imaginable from baking cookies for families to filing
paperwork in the office.
"We have different kinds of volunteers," said Ann Evans, volunteer coordinator.
An in-home volunteer goes through 11 hours of training, a background check and screenings for various medical conditions. This is to protect the terminally ill patients that are "already compromised health-wise," Evans said.
The in-home volunteers often provide respite for family members stuck caring for their loved one. They will sit with a patient for an hour or two so the caretaker can take a break. A husband with an ill wife can go have lunch with some friends, or a wife can go the beauty salon.
"You can't do everything, but you can do something," Reading said.
Other hospice volunteers arrange flowers donated by House of Flowers and deliver them to a patient's home or help out in the
LaVonda Schultz braved the cold weather to sit at a table and sell luminaries for $20. The luminaries placed along the Berg Park river trail were lit in memory of loved ones who have died. Family members strolled through the park paying silent homage.
"I volunteer for hospice because it's for people in San Juan County," Schultz said. "I do the books and help at all of the fundraisers."
The next fund-raising event will be in March — Daffodil Days — when Northwest New Mexico Hospice sells daffodils for funds.
"These events are so essential," Evans said.
That is because hospice is available to everyone, even those without insurance.
"We look after everyone, from the person who has nothing to the person who has everything," Reading said.
Hospice volunteers often are those who once received services from the organization.
"They see what happens and want to be able to help," Evans said. Other volunteers are those who "just want to give back to the community."
How to help
A new volunteer orientation for Northwest New Mexico Hospice will be Jan. 23-24.
Information: (505) 327-0381.
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