Student Hospice Volunteers: Many Opportunities Available

Posted by Frances Shani Parker on June 23, 2013 at 4:55pm

The first time I volunteered at a nursing home, I was a high school student. A smiling older woman savored applesauce I fed her. I still remember her joy whenever I eat applesauce. This scenario came about as part of my service activities in a school organization I had joined. Many years later, I found myself volunteering in nursing homes again and enjoying it even more.

A former principal of a schoolwide service learning school, I have no doubt that service activities positively impact many students beyond just getting hours needed to graduate, a requirement that didn’t exist back in the day when I was a student. In addition to building character, performing service exposes students to various careers in the healthcare field, improves their self-esteem, and empowers them with the knowledge that they can really make a difference in improving the world one person at a time. But good service is always a win-win opportunity for both the giver and the recipient.

Intergenerational service activities with schools partnering with hospice organizations, nursing homes, and other healthcare institutions can add wonderful layers of personal growth and satisfaction for everyone involved. The following student activities, which may overlap, should be performed under the supervision of a teacher or coordinator after partners plan together and agree on needs to be met: 

http://hospiceandnursinghomes.blogspot.com/2013/06/healthcare-hospice-student-volunteers.html

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