Caregiver Center Volunteers Needed at Danbury Hospital

Provide support to caregivers of patients throughout the hospital. Round on families on in-patient floors such as the ICU and encourage them to engage in self-care, with the goal of reducing caregiver stress.

Provide support and compassion towards caregivers encountered either in the Caregiver Center or on the units. Actively listen to their experiences while maintaining proper boundaries. Check-in with supervisor prior to coaching and debrief immediately after coaching session.

Varied Monday through Friday, approximately 2-3 hours/week depending on needs of hospital and Caregiver Coach schedule.

Have compassion, maintain boundaries and exhibit good judgment. Good communication skills. Ability to be self-aware and self-reflective. While personal and/or professional caregiving experience has been helpful in enhancing the empathy of those who become Caregiver Coaches, it is not a requirement.

A 2-3 session training specific to the Caregiver Coach role is provided by the Manager and Director of the Caregiver Center. In addition, shadowing of the Manager and/or Director will follow prior to going onto the units in pairs with other Coaches or alone. Coach and Manager together will determine when he/she is fully trained and ready to round the units on his/her own.

Please note that this is NOT as desk job. You will be rounding on caregivers to provide support. It takes a very special kind of person to be able to provide emotional support to families and caregivers. Are you that person? If so, please contact Amy Lionheart at 203-739-7277 or respond to this email.