Holy Redeemer Hospice Will Open Doors to Volunteer Opportunities at May Open House

Non-profit provider of home health and hospice services will provide information to volunteers interested in supporting patients and their families.

PHILADELPHIA – May 7, 2010 – Holy Redeemer Home Care and Hospice will open its doors to the community for a Volunteer Open House to provide information about the facility’s available volunteer opportunities. The Volunteer Open House will be held on Saturday, May 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Holy Redeemer Home Care and Hospice located at 12265 Townsend Road in Northeast Philadelphia minutes away from Woodhaven Road and about a mile from the National Guard Armory. 

Holy Redeemer is currently seeking compassionate and emotionally mature volunteers to provide support to hospice patients and their families in the Greater Philadelphia area. Volunteers will have the opportunity to provide support and companionship to patients facing a life-limiting illness.

Opportunities are available to adults 21 years and older to volunteer in patient care, pet therapy, reflexology, massage, healing touch, and clerical support in Holy Redeemer’s office and in-patient unit. Clerical volunteers will be stationed in Holy Redeemer’s offices and patient care volunteers will work in area homes and Holy Redeemer’s long term care facilities and inpatient unit. Volunteers who have experienced the gratifying work of hospice care will speak with those interested at the open house. Refreshments, door prizes, give-aways, speakers, demonstrations and displays will be available throughout the event.

 “Holy Redeemer’s volunteers make a world of difference in our patients lives and provide a great service to the families and loved ones of patients,” says Terre Mirsch, Holy Redeemer Vice President of Home Care and Hospice.  “Our volunteer program is an excellent asset for them.”

Many volunteers also report a great deal of personal satisfaction as a result of their services.

Holy Redeemer Hospice volunteer Chris McVey of Fox Chase was inspired to begin volunteering after the loss of her husband to cancer. McVey, a volunteer since February 2009, visits hospice patients in their homes as a way to provide a support system she wishes she had during her husband’s battle with cancer.

“My goal is to make a difference in both the lives of the patients and the caregivers. The caregivers are thrilled to have someone there with their loved one so that they are able to run errands. It takes burden off them for a short period of time and each time I leave I feel wonderful,” McVey said.  “It’s been a very positive experience for me.”

For more information on volunteer opportunities at Holy Redeemer call the volunteer services office at 215-698-3737.

Holy Redeemer Home Care provides care to patients and their families in Philadelphia, Bucks and Montgomery counties in Pennsylvania. Holy Redeemer Home Care and Hospice, the largest nonprofit provider of home health and hospice services in the state of New Jersey, offers a continuum of services throughout 11 New Jersey counties, including Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Salem, Somerset, and Union. It is part of Holy Redeemer Health System, which offers a wide range of healthcare and health-related services, including an acute care hospital, home health and hospice services, two skilled nursing facilities, assisted living, a retirement community, low-income housing, an active living community, and a transitional housing program for homeless women and children. For more information, visit www.holyredeemer.com.  

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