As Veterans Day approaches, several Michigan hospice organizations are highlighting the critical need for veteran volunteers to offer companionship and support to fellow service members in their final days. Hospice of Michigan, a statewide organization, emphasized the urgency for volunteers, particularly in West Michigan areas like Muskegon and Big Rapids, where they currently have none, according to a report from WZZM 13. Echoing the sentiment, Centrica Care Navigators in Kalamazoo has also been seeking veteran volunteers to connect with hospice patients who need comfort in the twilight of their lives, as per an article in WWMT News Channel 3.
The need for these volunteers stems from the shared military experience that fosters trust, understanding, and meaningful connections, a bond that can be hard to replicate by those not familiar with service, according to Col. Frank Walker, an Air Force and Air National Guard veteran, "You don't stop serving when you take the uniform off," Walker said and he also mentioned the importance of this bond, saying "Sometimes, you want to share stories with just them and not even your family so I think having that time alone sometimes is important," he told WZZM 13.
Volunteers are not only a source of solace for the dying but also for their families, with Centrica Care Navigators volunteer program manager Jodi Vanlerberg relaying to WWMT News Channel 3 how meaningful it was for her own father, a veteran, to be visited by a fellow service member. Hospice of Michigan and Arbor Hospice, serving a number of counties including Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb, encourage veterans to provide end-of-life support, stating that vet volunteers carry with them an understanding that reverberates beyond mere companionship, in a report from ClickOnDetroit.
For those looking to get involved, the organizations assure a supportive entry into volunteer service with Hospice of Michigan offering flexible, on-demand orientation sessions to accommodate personal schedules and both nonprofits requiring volunteers to complete orientation, background checks and fingerprinting before serving, as detailed by Ruth Moore-Lilly, volunteer program manager at Hospice of Michigan, "Veteran volunteers are the heart of how we honor those who’ve served," she conveyed, noting how veteran visits bring a sense of belonging, shared pride and peace that only another veteran can provide, shared insights from a ClickOnDetroit interview.
Interested veterans can find more information and apply to become volunteers through the websites of the participating organizations. To learn more about becoming a volunteer with Hospice of Michigan or Arbor Hospice, individuals can visit their respective websites or reach out directly to contact persons like Ruth Moore-Lilly for more personalized guidance in taking the steps to offer this invaluable service to fellow veterans in their time of need.
