What do Palliative care volunteers do?
Palliative care volunteers :

• provide comfort and support to people and families living with terminal illness in the home, hospital, hospices, and palliative care units
• provide contact with families through the time of bereavement following death
• Do special tasks such as help with baking, hosting weekly Teas, provide musical entertainment, etc.
  

• Is 18 years or older
• receives training and ongoing support
• enjoys meeting people
• is comfortable being with someone who is terminally ill
• is an important part of the palliative care team
• commits a minimum of 3 hours of their time a week for at least 3 months or more
• wants to make a difference in their own lives and the lives of those they visit.

What qualifications does a palliative care volunteer need?

Palliative Care Volunteers:

• must successfully complete a screening questionnaire and interview with the volunteer manager
• complete a 27 hour Palliative Care Training Course

• The Regional Palliative Care Program at 780-735-7834
• Or contact the volunteer departments at
• Continuing Care Centres:
  • Edmonton General: 780-482-8419
  • Norwood: 780-496-3252
  • St Joseph's Auxillary: 780-430-3441
  • Pilgrims: 780-413-9801
  • Youville Home: 780-460-6900
• Community Hospital and Health Care Centres:
  • Grey Nuns:780- 735-7270
  • Sturgeon: 780-460-6375
• Hospitals:
  • Royal Alexandra: 780-735-4430
  • University of Alberta Hospital: 780-407-8428

Compassionate Care for the Terminally Ill
Compassionate Care for the Terminally Ill is a certificate consisting of four non-credit courses designed to provide knowledge and skills for people who are caring for the terminally ill. Individuals enrolled in these distance-delivery courses will increase their awareness and understanding of the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual aspects of palliative care. Contact Bonnie Schwanbeck at 780-497-5109, toll free 1-866-221-2882 or or schwanbeckb@macewan.ca for further information.