University of Wisconsion - Eau Claire

UWEC

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Proposal

Be a Friend to a Hospice Patient

30 hours

Community partner: Interim Healthcare of Eau Claire - Hospice
Supervisor: Eve Coordinator
Beginning date:
2024-06-11
Ending Date:
2024-09-30

Service-Learning Proposal Description

1.

Briefly describe the project and the community need to be addressed.

Answer Hospice is about dignity and caring for the whole person body, mind, and spirit through the end-of-life journey. Our volunteers do companionship-based care by doing activities with seniors to create a positive quality of life. You are assigned a person local to you to get to know and help out with minor tasks like making them a sandwich, helping them do a puzzle, or going for a walk with them. Many people see hospice as a sad thing, but it isn't about that. It is about life and how precious each moment really is. Our patients thrive and our volunteers experience a truly unique bond as they are a friend and emotional support to a person in need.

2.

What is the mission of the agency or organization?

Answer Our mission is to prioritize the comfort, well-being, and individual needs of each patient, ensuring their experience is filled with support and dignity. Through unwavering dedication, we strive to empower patients and their families, honoring their unique stories and creating meaningful moments during life's most unexpected and challenging transitions. To make this happen, we have a whole team consisting of doctors, nurses, CNAs, massage therapists, physical therapists, and spiritual councilors to support them. Our volunteers are a pivotal part of this as well, adding to our patients overall well-being with their presence.

3.

What skills are required for this project? 

Answer You do not need to be a healthcare student to be a great fit for this project. Interpersonal skills and relationship building are the two big ones. We also love those with special skills such as playing an instrument. You will need a smart phone and transportation to the patient's home.

4.

What are the objectives for the student learning and service?

Answer Relationship building, interpersonal skills, working with people with varying backgrounds and levels of cognition, project management, professional development.

5.

What are the availability requirements for the student?

Answer There is no specific time for this role, but we would like the student to have two hours a week of free time at least. You are able to volunteer any day depending on your schedule. When you volunteer is up to you so long as the patient you are assigned to is happy with it, and you communicate well with the volunteer coordinator if any changes arise.

6.

Additional information (not required).

Answer We do a background check and test for tuberculosis. All of this is provided by us during your orientation which is about two hours long.
Center for Service-Learning • Old Library 2100 • University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire • Eau Claire WI 54702-4004
A Unit of: Advising, Retention + Career Center
Phone: 715-836-4649 • Fax: 715-836-4023
Questions/Comments: srvlearn@uwec.edu
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