National Volunteer Week 

PRESS RELEASE

April 14, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                CONTACT: Don Ruth

 Director, Public Relations Manager

don.ruth@covenanthospice.org

(850) 438-9714

Covenant Hospice honors hospice volunteers during

National Volunteer Week

Pensacola, FL – National Volunteer Week is April 27 through May 3, and Covenant Hospice is honoring its hospice volunteers who bring compassion, support and friendship to those facing a life-limiting illness. 

Hospice and palliative care volunteers bring companionship to people in the final months and weeks of life, respite to families and caregivers, and support in fundraising and administrative efforts by hospice care providers. These dedicated volunteers are integral members of the interdisciplinary team of professionals who provide care at the end of life.

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) reports that there are an estimated 400,000 hospice volunteers providing more than 16 million hours of service to hospice programs each year.  Here in Pensacola more than 1,746 volunteers provide 107,151 hours per year to help Covenant Hospice care for patients and families in our community. Many people become hospice volunteers after experiencing firsthand the compassionate care hospice provided to a dying loved one.

“Hospice volunteers play an indispensable role in enabling Covenant Hospice to offer the best care possible to people in our community. Volunteers bring compassion, caring and love to patients and their families who are going through one of life’s most difficult times,” commented Dale O. Knee, Covenant Hospice President & CEO.  “We are grateful to our volunteers during National Volunteer week and every week, and pleased that this celebration of volunteering allows us to remind everyone that hospice and palliative care volunteers are angels working among us,” said Knee.

It is federally mandated, under Medicare, that five percent of all patient care hours be provided by trained volunteers. This regulation was included in the Medicare hospice legislation to maintain the important role that volunteers play in hospice philosophy of care. Hospice began in this country about 30 years ago as a largely, volunteer-driven community movement. To this day volunteers continue to be at the heart of hospice.

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