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 BEING A HOSPICE VOLUNTEER:

Joe Lucier and Suzanne Arnold

LIFE LESSONS OVER CRIBBAGE AND ICE CREAM

 HYANNIS – Mar. 19, 2008 - You’ve likely heard of "Tuesdays with Morrie", the runaway best-seller by Mitch Albom about his relationship with Morrie Schwartz. You’re less likely to have heard about "Thursdays with Ben", as retired development officer and hospice volunteer Joe Lucier calls his latest volunteer experience. From June to December of last year, Lucier, age 76, spent every Thursday afternoon playing cribbage with 88-year-old Ben Arnold, in Arnold’s Sagamore Beach home. Arnold had been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, and Lucier was assigned as his hospice volunteer through Hospice & Palliative Care of Cape Cod.

The two hit it off right away, sharing their experiences as veterans and their passion for cribbage, pizza and ice cream. In doing so, they enabled Arnold’s wife Suzanne to get much-needed weekly breaks from the ongoing responsibility of caring for her ailing spouse.

Why would a man who’d worked hard at a long successful career choose to do anything other than play golf and kick back at this point in his life? As Lucier explains, "I read "Tuesdays with Morrie" and Rick Warren’s "Meaning of Life" and realized how fortunate I’ve been. I decided it was time to pay back and get involved with someone other than myself." Three years ago, Lucier applied for and was accepted in the 20-hour-long training course provided by Hospice & Palliative Care of Cape Cod for all their patient volunteers. It gave him the skills, support and self-confidence to be comfortable as a companion to patients dealing with a life-threatening disease.

Lucier spent time with various patients over the first few years, some for just a few days, some longer. But Ben Arnold was the longest. When Lucier was first assigned to Arnold, he had to bone up on his cribbage, which was more than a little rusty.

"I hadn’t played it in sixty years! So I went to the Internet and re-read the rules," Lucier laughs. Arnold had been a competitive player, and the two were soon playing five or six games each session. In the process, Arnold recounted to Lucier his stories of being a Marine in the Pacific during World War II when he lost his left arm in the bloody Battle of Pelalau. The pride Lucier shared in Arnold’s Marine service bonded the two deeply.

Some Thursday nights, Suzanne Arnold would come home from going out with friends and find Lucier and her husband still at the cribbage board, after their usual meatball pizza and strawberry ice cream dinner. It gave her great comfort to know Ben had a regular friend and companion who enjoyed being with him. "Hospice was wonderful. I can’t thank them enough for all they did for me. I was able to keep Ben at home and get the breaks I needed to keep going."

Ben Arnold died peacefully in December, having lived a year longer than his doctor had predicted. Lucier attended the funeral and was deeply moved by the sight of Arnold lying in state in his Marine dress uniform. "People often ask me how I can do such depressing work. And I always tell them how rewarding it is. Dying is a part of living. Hospice does such a wonderful job of bringing dignity to the process. Personal caring – there isn’t a better thing you can do. I enjoy providing that to others." Lucier adds "I’m in a training program. I’m going down that road pretty fast and I want to be ready for it."

Or as Morrie Schwartz himself said" "Once you learn how to die, you learn how to live."
Volunteers


Anja Sweetland

Anja Sweetland trained as a patient family volunteer in 2003. Her assignments focus on providing Reiki, a non-invasive therapy that aids in relaxation and stress reduction. She is a certified 3rd degree Reiki Practitioner. “Hospice allows me do the energy work I love to do, to help people have a better end-of-life experience,” said Anja. “I have had rich friendships with the patients and their families. It has been very rewarding.”


Nancy McKenzie

Nancy McKenzie began her volunteer work as part of the Caregiver Corps. She was the primary caregiver during her husband’s illness and her personal experience provided a foundation for supporting other caregivers of hospice patients. Nancy visited the Thrift Shop and became an active volunteer there this year. And this past spring she completed patient/family volunteer training. “The most enjoyable part of being a H&PCCC volunteer is getting to meet so many people that I would never have known otherwise,” said
Nancy. “It makes me happy to use my life experiences to help others.”
You are here  »   Join Us  »  Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering at H&PCCC

Volunteers are a resource and a vital part of the strategy for fulfilling the mission of Hospice & Palliative Care of Cape Cod. We value our volunteers because they diversify and expand the services offered to our patients, families and the community. Dedicated volunteers work in partnership with employees at the bedside, in fund raising activities, office support in our various office's, in the hospice Thrift Shop. We tailor assignments to maximize the value of the experience to both volunteer and agency. Training and ongoing support is provided to help the volunteer feel rewarded, confident and growing.

Volunteer Positions Include:

  • Administrative support work
  • Hospice Thrift Shop 
  • Patient/Family support
  • Mary McCarthy Hospice House support
  • Fund-raising events
  • Public speaking
  • Reiki therapy

Why Volunteer?

  • Volunteering makes you feel needed (and you are!).
  • Volunteering can lead to learning new skills.
  • Volunteering returns to society some of the benefits society gives you.
  • Volunteering helps you meet new people, fosters understanding, trust and confidence.
  • Volunteering provides opportunities to strengthen our community.

Statistics FY 07

  • 214 volunteers
  • 11,224 hours of service 
  • $252,091 extended the budget
  • $22.46 Value of Volunteer Hour
Types of Volunteer Opportunities

Patient and Family Support

Patient/Family Support Volunteers serve patients and families living in their own home, apartment or in residential, assisted living or long-term care facilities. Volunteers provide respite for caregivers and offer comfort and companionship to patients. They assist with the routines of daily life such as shopping, running errands, transportation to appointments and occasional light meal preparation.

McCarthy Care Center (East Sandwich) provide companionship to residents and families, answer phones, serve meals, help with light housekeeping and act as a concierge.

Bereavement Volunteers work with H&PCCC staff placing calls to the surviving family members of patients who have died to provide information on bereavement support groups, and may assist with grief groups and memorial events.

Reiki Volunteers provide Reiki treatments to aid in the process of easing tension and stress by promoting a feeling of relaxation and peace. Training as a Patient/Family Support volunteer is a prerequisite.

Organizational Opportunities

Thrift Shop Volunteers help in every aspect of running the store including assisting customers, setting up displays, operating the cash register, and receiving and pricing donations.

Administrative Support Volunteers work in both our Hyannis and Falmouth offices and contribute to a wide range of office staff functions, from copying and collating to database management.

Phone: 508-957-0200 ♦ Toll Free: 800-642-2423 ♦ Fax: 508-957-0229
E-mail: info@HospiceCapeCod.org
We are available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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