While in your home, a volunteer could help in some of these ways:

• Stay with the patient when you are away.
• Transport the patient.
• Converse and reminisce with the patient and family.
• Prepare a light meal and feed the patient.
• Assist an ambulatory patient to the bathroom or bedside commode.
• Turn and reposition a bedfast patient if desired.
• Read aloud anything the patient wishes to hear.
• Write letters as the patient dictates.
• Simply "be there" to respond to the patient's requests.
• Run errands, such as grocery shopping.

Special Situations

Medications - Volunteers cannot open a patient's medicine bottle. Family members should prepare the medicine before leaving. The patient must take the medicine him or herself. The volunteer can remind the patient that it is time to take medicine.

Transfers - Whether a volunteer is allowed to transfer (move) a patient from bed to chair or any place else is decided on a case-by-case basis. If a patient is able to walk, even with help, a volunteer can certainly help. When a patient is bedfast, a volunteer is not allowed to move a patient to a chair.

Patients have different abilities. If there is any question about whether a volunteer should help a patient move about in the home, the Hospice of Salina nurse may assess and provide instruction to the volunteer.

Feeding a Patient - A patient who has problems with eating and swallowing may be helped by a volunteer after special instructions on safe feeding have been given.

Transportation - Volunteers specially trained to provide transportation and meeting established standards are allowed to drive a patient. A volunteer cannot transport a patient who cannot walk or is unable to bear weight when moving.