OUR SERVICES
Palliative Care in Massachusetts for Adults and Children
Palliative Care with Notre Dame At Home improves quality of life for both you and your family. In the compassionate spirit of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Notre Dame Health Care’s Palliative team fosters a deep understanding of life’s journey, ensuring those who need Palliative Care can receive the support they need whether in their home, an Assisted Living community, or wherever they may call home.
Become an Adult Palliative or Pediatric Palliative (Pedi Pals) Care Volunteer.
Experience the joy that comes from helping others. Notre Dame Palliative Care volunteers provide care to our patients and their families, as well as administrative support to our staff. Notre Dame Health Care welcomes volunteers with all levels of experience and there is no minimum time commitment. Just bring your passion for caring and making a difference!
Volunteers support our program in the following ways:
ADULT PALLIATIVE CARE
Direct Care
Under the guidance and supervision of the Palliative Interdisciplinary Team, many volunteers opt to work directly with our clients in 1:1 or group settings. Opportunities are available for those seeking a different experience as well, including office assistance and more.
- Visit and provide companionship
- Specific tasks, prepare meals, run errands, read, or help with household chores
- Offering a supportive and caring presence to the patient and family
- Respite for the family
- Childcare, reading to the patient, playing cards/games
- Office support such as filing, answering phones, mailings
- Gardening
- Massage
- Crafts
- Knitting/quilting crocheting
PEDIATRIC PALLIATIVE CARE (PEDI PALS)
Our Pediatric Palliative Care Program (Pedi Pals) is looking for kind, compassionate individuals who love to work with children. Our Pedi Pals volunteers can offer both direct and in-direct services.
Direct Care
- Provide companionship and developmentally appropriate play to alleviate a sense of isolation
- Enable siblings to receive 1:1 companionship for support, tutoring and socialization
- Provide caretaker with temporary respite, while caregiver is home
- Assist with social events
Indirect Care
- Assist with planning, preparing, and implementing social events
- Assist with administrative needs such as organizing materials, mailings, and files
The Notre Dame Palliative Care volunteer training program offers ongoing education, supervision, and support to ensure the success of everyone involved. Because our volunteers often have so many other commitments, the orientation process is as streamlined as possible. Orientation can be completed as a self-study, online, or within a structured group setting.
Want more information? Contact us.
Debra Towne, Volunteer Coordinator
Please return applications via email or mail to:
Notre Dame Hospice
ATTN: Debra Towne
555 Plantation St.
Worcester, MA 01605
palliativecareteam@notredamehealthcare.org
Phone (508) 852-5505
