Volunteer Training Workshop to Improve Companionship Care in Hospice Home Visits

Volunteer Training Workshop to Improve Companionship Care in Hospice Home Visits Central Coast VNA and Hospice is a non-profit organization that provides care and assistance to individuals in their end-of-life stages in the tri-county area. The macro-level problem is that too many elders face higher levels of loneliness. The micro-level problem is too few VNA volunteers engage with clients in a meaningful way during companionship visits. The purpose of this project is to provide volunteers with information on the importance of empathy and techniques to ensure they are able to carry out meaningful companionship visits. This educational intervention is delivered through an hour-long workshop. The expected outcome is knowledge gained from the workshop will allow for a connection to be made with a new client. Effectiveness is assessed by conducting a pre- and post-survey of the participating volunteers. Findings include volunteers feeling less intimidated by their role and duties during a visit. Recommendations include incorporating an activities guide in the workshop that can be carried out during visits