Danbury Hospital will continue a volunteer program that started last year called No One Dies Alone.
In five evening sessions beginning Sept. 26, the Department of Spiritual Care, the Palliative Care Program and the Department of Volunteer Services at the hospital will offer special training to prepare people to be volunteer compassionate witnesses for patients reaching the end of their time.
The project seeks to provide compassionate companionship for patients who are actively dying and have no family or friends, or, at least, have no one close by to be with them during the last days and hours.
“We want to bring a sense of comfort when no one else is there for the person. Out of whichever faith tradition our volunteers may bring, there is a universal sense of connection that they offer,” said Rabbi Jeffery M. Silberman, director of spiritual care.
“One of the saddest things that we sometimes see at the hospital is when someone dies with no one who cares there,” said Barry Boriss, volunteer coordinator for the program.
Once the new volunteers have been screened and trained they will be integrated with the volunteers who were trained last year. Cost of the training is $50, and attendance at all five sessions is mandatory. Deadline for application is Sept. 20. The number of spaces for the specialized training is limited.
For more information, call (203) 739-7885.
