Volunteers with hospice help when they are most needed

April 23 to 29 is National Volunteer Week, a time to recognize the efforts of the many thousands of men and women in this country who give of their time and talents to help others. No where is the importance of volunteering more strongly seen than among our community's hospice programs. Hospice volunteers accompany people on one of life's most challenging journeys-the end of life.

Hospice volunteers provide hundreds of hours of service annually to local residents coping with life-limiting illness and to their families. They provide compassion, friendship and dignity at a time when they are needed most.

There is a common misconception that hospice is about giving up and giving in. That's not at all true and hospice volunteers know this firsthand. In fact, many volunteers came to hospice after experiencing the special care hospice provided to a loved one.

Hospice volunteers are there to hold a hand and listen, or to take a person to their favorite place in the park, or to read or write a letter. Volunteers may run errands, walk a dog, or even help out in a hospice's office. Volunteers are there to step in when a family member needs a break. And they are there for the family and friends after their loved one has passed away.

People often ask hospice volunteers "Isn't it depressing?" Most volunteers will tell you that it's the most rewarding thing they've ever done. Hospice volunteers help patients and families live every day as fully as possible. And they make a difference in their own lives. Hospice is about how you live. Maria Prescott Executive Director Hospice of the Conejo