by Glenda Jones
The Hub Hospice Palliative Care is pleased to announce the hiring of Wendy Powell as the Coordinator of Volunteer Services. Wendy, an Almonte native, is a registered nurse, who has worked in tertiary, primary and community health settings, where patient interaction is a key component.
After working as registered nurse with the Rideau Community Health Service team in Smith Falls, she was offered the opportunity to manage the building of the Assisted Living Program with Mills Community Support in Mississippi Mills, her home territory. Says Wendy, “Almonte has been home my entire live, and this was an opportunity to work in my community building a much needed service.” The Assisted Living Program now supports 40 older persons in Almonte and Carleton Place to live independently at home with the assistance of Personal Support Workers available 24 hours a day. “I am proud and honoured to have participating in the building of the program.”
Her new role with the hospice will allow her to once again build a program to suit the needs of the community. To Wendy, her clients are foremost in her mind, whether it is providing direct help or putting them in the care of volunteers who are specifically trained to meet their needs.
Wendy feels the best part of the Hub Hospice is that it is a grass roots community driven initiative which can expand as the need arises. Being close to its clients, it will be able to provide new programs and greater support, as well as ongoing training of volunteers. Besides, there is now a willingness to talk about death, grieving, and healing that was not apparent years ago.
After successfully helping to train a team of volunteers this spring, Wendy and the hospice have developed their own training programme to run a second course from September 18 to November 15. It is hoped that by Christmas there will be over 20 people on the volunteer roster.
The hospice service is expected to be operational by early September, with an official launch planned during the month. Public education will follow so the community will be able to contact the hospice and access its services. There will also be opportunities to volunteer or donate to the hospice as well as become a member of the Friends of Hospice.
Hospice services are freely given, staffed by trained and dedicated volunteers who can be any age, male or female. The only requisite is a desire to connect with clients and families at a crucial time of life. The best volunteers are those who can sit quietly and listen, can be present in the moment and be comfortable with silence or conversation as is needed.
To contact Wendy Powell about any aspect of the Hub Hospice Palliative Care, go to the website: www.hubhospice.com or call the office at (613)406-7020. Your call will be answered in a timely fashion.
Watch for the public announcement of the official opening, and get more information at the Seniors Expo, September 13 in Mississippi Mills.