Houston’s Solari Hospice Care Needs Volunteers

As the mercury rises, so does the need for additional volunteers at Houston’s Solari Hospice Care. Solari Hospice wants people to give extra time to hospice this summer.

“Many of our regular volunteers take vacations in the summer, so we’re always looking for extra help,” said Dana Reeder, volunteer coordinator and community liaison for Solari Hospice Care. “Even a few hours a week can make a huge difference to our patients and staff.”

Hospice volunteers bring a wide range of skills and abilities to Solari. Some volunteers read and play games with patients, run errands and do light household chores, or offer companionship so caregivers can enjoy short-term relief. Other volunteers share a special knowledge or talent with patients, such as speaking a second language or playing a musical instrument. Volunteers also answer phones and provide secretarial support.

Volunteers are needed in all locations — at the 12-bed inpatient hospice home at 9714 S. Gessner Road, in the administrative office at 6800 West Loop South in Bellaire and in patients’ residences all over Harris County.

Currently, there are an estimated 458,000 active volunteers working in hospices around the country, according to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. These trained volunteers donate more than 21 millions hours of service annually and account for 5.2 percent of all patient care hours.

“Although it takes a special person to be a hospice volunteer, there are no special requirements beyond a sense of compassion and a caring heart,” Reeder said. “I always try to match up volunteers’ interests with our patients’ needs, so everyone benefits from the experience.”

Training sessions for hospice volunteers are free and conducted on an ongoing basis, so volunteers can begin service at any time. Schedules and hours are flexible.

“Many of our volunteers tell us they get more out of working in hospice than they give,” Reeder said. “It’s truly a rewarding experience to help the terminally ill and their families during this difficult time in their lives. Even a couple of hours a week can have a huge impact.”

Houston’s Solari Hospice Care continues to provide trusted, compassionate hospice care to hundreds of Houston-area residents each year. Solari feels privileged be a part of their lives.

Solari Hospice Care has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval. The Joint Commission, the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care, is considered the world’s leader in evaluating quality and safety of care delivered in all types of health care settings.

For more information about Solari Hospice Care’s volunteer program, contact Reeder at 713-664-7120. For more information about Solari Hospice Care, please visit www.solarihospice.com or follow @SolariHospice on Twitter or Facebook. Solari is located at 6800 West Loop South, Suite 250 in Bellaire.

About Solari Hospice Care

Houston’s Solari Hospice Care is devoted to helping people live with dignity and comfort by providing trusted and professional hospice care in the Houston community. Focused on enhancing the quality of life for patients and their loved ones, Solari's exemplary team of physicians, pharmacists, registered nurses, certified nursing aides, administrative staff and bereavement counselors are specially trained to offer the most compassionate and comforting care designed for each patient's unique individual needs.