MERRIMACK – Home Health & Hospice Care is looking for people to volunteer their time to provide visits to hospice patients in the greater Nashua and surrounding areas. Volunteer support helps patients and their families feel less alone during a difficult time. A volunteer can make a friendly visit, assist with light housework or shopping and errands, or provide respite so that family members can take a break. Volunteers may also become involved in a specialty program such as veterans supporting veterans at end of life, sitting vigil with people at very end of life, or complimentary therapy programs: pet visitation, music and Reiki.

To become active, volunteers are asked to complete a hospice training course, which is typically offered as a series in the spring and fall. Home Health & Hospice Care will be offering a special summer intensive training course to accommodate teachers, college students and others who wish to volunteer and for whom the regular courses are not a good fit.

The intensive 35-hour hospice training program will be held over a two-week period in July. Class meets 12:30-5 p.m. July 10-13 and 17-20 at 7 Executive Park Drive in Merrimack. Potential participants are encouraged to register immediately so that they may complete the application and interview process prior to the start of training.

The training sessions are informative and cover a variety of topics, including hospice philosophy, listening skills, family dynamics, emotional and spiritual issues, pain and symptom management, complementary therapies, and grief and bereavement care. The training is free for those who intend to volunteer. Individuals not interested in volunteering, but in taking the hospice training for personal or professional reasons may attend for a $150 fee.

More information may be found online at www.hhhc.org/how-to-help/volunteer, or contact Tanya Prather at 557-2806 or volunteer@hhhc.org.