Be A Volunteer
Get Involved
Whatever your talent or ability, it can be utilized as a volunteer.
Benton County Health Department is looking for volunteers
who are interested in giving a little of there time to our organization.
Areas in which volunteers may be used vary.
Hospice
or
Community Volunteers
The purpose of this page is to provide information on areas of need, training opportunities
(as available), and information on how you can become a volunteer.
Hospice
The hospice philosophy is one of hope - hope for caring and comfort, hope for relief from physical, emotional and spiritual pain. Hospice focuses on living; however, it accepts death as a natural and integral part of life. People think of hospice as a place where people go, but Benton County Hospice is not a place at all. It is a service and support system to help terminally ill patients make the most of their final stage of life, and help their families cope with the impending death of a loved one.
The use of volunteers is fundamental to the hospice philosophy. Trained volunteers are available to help hospice families in many different capacities. All certified hospice volunteers complete a training program and are invited to attend continuing education that is provided occasionally.
Some of the things a Hospice Volunteer does include:
Office work such as typing and filing
Visits with patients to reminisce about good times
Stay with patient while family runs errands
Take a hospice patient fishing for a couple hours
Drive to airport to pick up a family member
Alter the clothing of a hospice patient
Take patient for a car ride
Read a book or magazine to a hospice patient
Do minor yard work or housework a hospice patient can no longer do
Play a card or board game with the patient
Bring in firewood
Help the patient bake a cake or prepare a special meal
Search the internet for medical information
The list is endless and will be different according to the patient's need and what the volunteer wants to do. Volunteers do not provide round the clock patient care or stay with patients who are on the brink of death, however they can do much to relieve the stress that comes with coping with a terminal illness. This is what is taught in the volunteer training.
Training for new Benton County Hospice Volunteers is usually a two day training. Those who take the training are not obligated to become a volunteers; some take training just for the information.
Contact Jon Schmidt, BSW, Director of Benton County Hospice Volunteers during regular business hours at 66-438-2876, ext 211 or e-mail: schmij2@lpha.mopublic.org
What will be taught in the trainings:
The hospice history, concept and philosophy
That Education lessons fears
How Hospice helps a patient and their family
Physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the terminally ill person
Education about common medical equipment
How to communicate with the dying person and their families
The role of all the Hospice team members
All About Oxygen
Stress reduction
Grief and loss issues
How you Can help others
That it's ok to laugh and it's ok to cry
.................and many other things
To register please submit the form by clicking the picture below
and return it to Jon Schmidt at Benton County Health Department.
Community Volunteers
Benton County
Health Department is interested in creating a program that educates people about
disaster preparedness for all hazards that may impact our area, and train them in
basic disaster response skills. The
purpose is to provide training to a group of citizens that could assist during a disaster
and to encourage disaster preparedness in the community.
As a volunteer organization, members would serve as a temporary resource
during emergency situations when professional responders are overwhelmed or
unavailable.
During
an emergency, volunteers may be the “eyes and ears” and provide situation
updates. They could be trained in
utility shut off, first aid, and significantly assist in the preservation of
human life. This may include shelter operations where you would have a
significant role in the care of fellow citizens, whether that role be working in
a shelter or assisting with the distribution of critical supplies.
Do you
know what types of hazards could most likely affect your community?
Do you
know what steps the community should take to prepare themselves for an
emergency?
Do you
know how to control bleeding or treat shock?
Can you
perform a head to toe assessment?
Do you
know a safe way to remove debris and search for possible victims?
Are you
interested in becoming a community disaster volunteer?
The
call for community assistance is being requested for all citizens (medical and
non-medical), who could be authorized to respond to a public health emergency.
Emergencies types could include natural disasters, an act of bioterrorism
or a disease outbreak.
If you have additional questions, contact Cathy Chance during business hours at 660-438-2876, ext 222 or e-mail: chancC@lpha.mopublic.org
Anyone interested in becoming community volunteers, please fill out our volunteer form. This information will be kept in a confidential database, so that if the need arises you could be contacted. Information on training opportunities will also be provided as they become available.
Click on the picture below to bring up a printable form...
Mail form to:
Benton County Health Department
P.O. Box 935
Warsaw, MO 65355
Outstanding is how you always come through.
Loyal, sincere and full of good cheer,
Untiring in your efforts throughout the year.
Notable are the contributions you make.
Trustworthy in every project you take.
Eager to reach your every goal.
Effective in the way you fulfill your role.
Ready with a smile like a shining star,
Special and wonderful—that’s what you are.
-Unknown
