7/21/2009

Jewish Hospital Seeks Volunteers for No One Dies Alone Program

Louisville, KY— Jewish Hospital believes that just as we usher and welcome human life into this world, the same respect and dignity should be shown as a human life is leaving this world.  To ensure all patients receive the most compassionate care, a new volunteer program has been created to supplement the end of life care provided by the nursing staff. The program, called No One Dies Alone, is currently seeking volunteers to provide the reassuring presence of a companion to dying patients who would otherwise be alone.

The program, modeled after an award-winning program founded by Sacred Heart Medical Center in Oregon, utilizes volunteers to provide a comforting presence for patients who are without family or friends as they are dying. 

No nursing skills are necessary to volunteer.  Companions need only to be willing to hold the hand of the patient, read to the patient, play music, fluff pillows and assist in comfort care as requested by the patient or directed by a nurse. Companions are supplied with CD player, CDs, journals and literature to assist with the vigil.

Individuals interested in becoming a volunteer can contact Jewish Hospital Volunteer Services for an application at 587-4305 or may access the No One Dies Alone Volunteer Application online at http://www.jhsmh.org/about/pdf/NodaComApp.pdf.

“We believe that our terminally ill patients deserve comfort, respect and dignity as they leave this world,” said Jewish Hospital Chaplain Katherine Lesch.  “The No One Dies Alone program will provide those patients without family and friends with a caring companion during their final hours.”

More information about the No One Dies Alone program is available at: http://jhsmhc.org/about/vol_noda.html.

ABOUT JEWISH HOSPITAL

Jewish Hospital is an internationally renowned high-tech tertiary referral center developing leading-edge advancements in hand and microsurgery, heart and lung care, home care, rehab medicine (including sports medicine), orthopaedics, neuroscience, occupational health, organ transplantation and outpatient and primary care.  Site of the world’s first successful hand transplant, and the world’s first and second successful AbioCor® Implantable Replacement Heart procedures, the hospital is also federally designated to perform all five solid organ transplants – heart, lung, liver, kidney and pancreas. In 2008, the hospital was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the Best 50 Hospitals in the U.S. in heart and heart surgery; neurology and neurosurgery; and respiratory disorders.