Volunteers needed to support Sudbury hospice clients at home
The Maison McCulloch Hospice in Sudbury needs some compassionate volunteers.
The non-profit not only offers end-of-life care at its residential facility but also to people who want to spend their final days at home.
Right now, the hospice needs volunteers in its community program.
“From what we see and understand, dying is a very isolating journey,” said Julie Aube, executive director of Maison McCulloch Hospice.
“So to be able to have that experience and extra level of psycho-social stimulation and support, it’s magical.”
Suzette Forget, client services coordinator at the hospice, runs the community program in which she matches trained volunteers with people at end of life.
“The volunteers are companions,” Forget said.
“They learn different things in the 30-hour training on how to have conversations with people and how to listen to people who are navigating their end-of-life journey. So with that training … they are also trained here at the hospice, as well, before we send them out in the community.”
The program needs volunteers to visit clients and provide support and companionship to those who live in Greater Sudbury and outlying areas.
“We serve a pretty large geographical area,” Forget said.
“We can go as far as Levack out to Capreol, Estaire. So we are out there -- we go up to the French River, too.”
Forget said volunteers in the community program take part in an online 30-hour training session, screening and shadowing to prepare them for the role.
o Download our app to get local alerts on your device
o Get the latest local updates right to your inbox“Empathy is very, very important,” she said.
“We also ask our volunteers to have an open mind and to be non-judgemental, because when it comes to this point in a person’s life, they are very vulnerable.”
The hospice said it’s seeing an increase in referrals from people who need end-of-life care in their homes and they are hoping volunteers will step up to provide that support and companionship.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard found not guilty of sexual assault
Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman in northeastern Ontario eight years ago. The former Hedley frontman had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.
Police arrest Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides
Police have arrested a Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides and investigators say that they believe two of the victims may have been 'randomly targeted.'
Missing B.C. climber died from fall on Mount Baker, medical examiner says
The body of a British Columbia mountain climber has been located and recovered after the 39-year-old man was reported missing during a solo climb on Washington state's Mount Baker earlier this week.
Following child's death in Ontario, here's what you need to know about rabies and bats
An Ontario child died last month after coming into contact with a rabid bat in their bedroom, which was the first known human rabies case in Canada since 2019.
A French judge in a shocking rape case allows the public to see some of the video evidence
A French judge in the trial of dozens of men accused of raping an unconscious woman whose now former husband had repeatedly drugged her so that he and others could assault her decided on Friday to allow the public to see some of the video recordings of the alleged rapes.
Former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters sentenced to 9 years for voting data scheme
A judge ripped into a Colorado county clerk for her crimes and lies before sentencing her Thursday to nine years behind bars for a data-breach scheme spawned from the rampant false claims about voting machine fraud in the 2020 presidential race.
Anne Hathaway confirms 'Princess Diaries 3': 'Miracles happen'
You might be thinking, 'Shut up!' but it’s officially true: the 'Princess Diaries' franchise is finally growing.
Youth pleads guilty to manslaughter in death of P.E.I. teen Tyson MacDonald
A teen charged with the murder of another teen on Prince Edward Island last year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
Sask. man pleads guilty in U.S. after unknowingly providing videos of men raping toddlers to FBI agent
A Saskatchewan man living in the United States has pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography after he unknowingly provided disturbing videos to an FBI agent he thought was a pedophile.