Eastern Zone - Cape Breton - Hospice & Palliative Care

Volunteers may assist with non-medical support, such as providing a listening ear, sharing memories, taking a patient out for a stroll, playing cards, writing a letter, preparing a snack or providing refreshments, etc.  Volunteers may also help with simple comfort measures such as giving a back rub or foot rub to a patient, fixing a patient’s hair or laundering a patient’s personal clothing.  Volunteers can also provide brief (2-4 hours) respite for family members who may require respite.

Community volunteers offer the same support as above only in the patients’ homes or nursing homes.   This program is on a referral basis and volunteers are matched with patients and visit with them usually once or twice per week.  Volunteers spend time with the patients at home to provide much needed companionship or possibly respite for the caregiver.