NORWICH – Hospice of Chenango County has a unique opportunity for caring individuals to volunteer in their Bereavement Department. The non-profit health care agency seeks to train up to eight persons due to an increase in demand for services from Hospice families, and the community at large.
After a Hospice patient dies, a designated Social Worker provides bereavement care for at least thirteen months. This time frame encompasses an entire calendar year of firsts; the first Thanksgiving without the loved one; the first birthday or wedding anniversary, etc. “Significant dates can trigger a grief response greater than the survivor might expect,” says Bereavement Coordinator Brenda Birdsall. “We want to make sure we’re available to lend emotional support when it’s needed the most.”