Hospice volunteers are needed in all areas of the VNA Hospice service region, which consists of fourteen southeastern Missouri counties.

Trainings are currently being planned for Wednesday in Kennett and June 24 in Dexter from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Additional trainings are being planned for other cities in the region as those interested make their wishes known.

The first hour of training provides basic information about hospice services.

By the end of that first 60 minutes, every attendee should be able to decide if they want to continue with the training. Those who do become volunteers will choose how much or how little time they wish to give.

The training is designed to help volunteers better use life skills they already have to ease the pain and suffering of a family facing end-of-life issues. People taking the free training are asked to wait until after they have completed it to have a full understanding of what they may be volunteering to do.

VNA Hospice is a private, non-profit health care provider specializing in care of the terminally ill. To qualify for hospice care, a patient must have a medical diagnosis of an illness that will most likely shorten life expectancy to six months or less.

To register for the volunteer training, obtain more information or to request services, please call 1-800-286-5892 or e-mail hsander@vnasemo.com. If the May or June training is not a good time for you or you would like more information, please call Helen Sander, VNA hospice coordinator.