Pets bring joy to people in hospice care - Do you have dog 1 year or older?

Purpose - to provide Therapy Dogs that can provide emotional support for patients in end of life care and there by contribute toward a better quality of life.

Dog Requirements

Only dogs which are certified to be medically fit, are current with all required vaccinations, have a calm temperament, are at least 1 year old and not in heat, and have documentation of successfully completing obedience training shall be allowed to visit the selected patients.

Dogs must be certified by their own Veterinarian as being in good health, including general dental health. There should be no evidence of Fleas, ticks, mites, diarrhea, vomiting, occulo-nasal discharge, skin lesions, dermatitis or ringworm. If a dog requires treatment for an illness by its’ Veterinarian in between visits, a note must be obtained from the Veterinarian stating the dog is healthy and may resume therapy visits.Any dog that has had Sarcotic Mange within the last 6 months must have one documented negative scraping.

All dog vaccinations must be current and include:

Rabies

Distemper

Hepatitis (adenovirus)

Parvovirus must be current

At the discretion of the Veterinarian, Leptosrirosis and Parainfluenza.

Proof of vaccination must be submitted on an annual basis.A ten-day period must have elapsed between the most recent vaccination and pet visit.

Please join our volunteer team today with your dog.

Pets bring joy to people in hospice care. They provide unconditional love that cuts stress.

Pet therapy helps make patients feel good inside and out.

When pet therapy animals visit hospice patients, their interactions can take many forms. The pets and handlers are trained to be calm, friendly, and attentive to the patient’s needs. Here are some of the common ways therapy pets connect with hospice patients during visits:

• Sitting on the bed, allowing patients to pet or stroke them
• Placing their head in a patient’s lap to be petted
• Leaning into a patient receiving a hug

The gentle physical contact and tactile stimulation are soothing for patients. Petting the animal releases feel-good hormones and promotes relaxation.

• Sitting calmly next to a patient during conversations
• Placing their head sympathetically on a patient’s lap during moments of grief
• Cuddling up to a lonely patient to provide companionship
• Listening attentively to patients sharing stories or voicing worries
• Making encouraging eye contact and responding to emotions

The pets’ unconditional affection and sensitivity to human feelings bring great emotional comfort to patients.

Prior to assignment - Pet owners will complete the standard volunteer onboarding process, which includes a drug test, background check and 8 hours of orientation/training.

If our program sounds like a good fit for your pet contact us for more information!!

Have you ever dreamed of the opportunity to make an impact in the lives of others? Maybe you have a special talent that makes others smile? Or free time to share a laugh with someone? A hospice volunteer does just that each day.

Hospice volunteers are compassionate individuals who provide comfort and support to patients facing a life-limiting illness. Volunteers offer specialized skills and support outside of the clinical team.

There is no one-size-fits-all to what makes a hospice volunteer. Some volunteers participate because they want to give back to the community or they might have a special talent that brings joy to others. However, each volunteer makes a significant impact on patients and their families.

Volunteers ensure that the patient and family’s needs are met in a variety of ways. This can be through companionship, assisting with everyday tasks or providing respite time to a patient’s caregivers. Hospice volunteers can also make an impact by assisting the hospice agency with administrative duties.

This can look like:

• Sitting with a patient, socializing and providing a listening ear
• Helping with general office support
• Running errands for patients and families
• Writing a journal or life story with patients as a memento for the family
• Playing games, reading or listening to music with patients
• Walking or caring for family pets
• Assisting with light house cleaning
• Providing bereavement support for family members

Hospice volunteers have the unique opportunity to provide a type of care that is companionship-based. This non-clinical support oftentimes helps patients remain in high spirits. It might even give them or their loved ones a break from thinking about their illness.

For some, being a hospice volunteer is all about spreading joy in the ways you know best - whether that is through laughter, friendship or using your talents and hobbies to make others smile.

Oftentimes, a diagnosis or medical condition will disrupt a patient’s passion. Hospice volunteers try to help patients continue doing the things that matter most to them while living with a terminal illness.

It is clear that hospice volunteers can make significant impacts in the lives of patients and loved ones navigating the end-of-life journey. If you feel called to do the same, consider becoming a hospice volunteer.

To volunteer with Enhabit, you must:

• Be least 18 years old
• Have experienced no significant personal loss in the past year
• Complete a criminal background check
• 2 step tuberculosis test
• Drug test
• Complete an eight-hour hybrid orientation

Getting started as a hospice volunteer is as easy, we look forward to working together to provide a better way to care for our patients and their loved ones.

The volunteer team would love to have you join!! Reach out today to the volunteer coordinator to get started!!

Watch our video to learn more: A day in the Life of a Therapy Dog!