Hospice of Maine

Jane Beers is the Direct Care Volunteer Coordinator at Hospice Volunteers of Waterville Area.  Jane trains and supervises the volunteers that work directly with those who are in their last months of life.  The hospice philosophy includes the loved ones surrounding our clients in our service.  Volunteers visit the homes and nursing homes of twenty-seven communities surrounding Waterville and provide non-medical support and companionship to our clients.

How do Colby students contribute to the mission and goals of your organization?

There is a long history of partnership between Colby students and service at our organization.  Offering hospice volunteer training to as many Colby students as desire has been a real joy. My intention has been to provide an introduction to hospice care particularly to those who intend to pursue a career in the health professions. Our mission is threefold:  to provide neighbourly non-medical support to those at end-of-life, to provide unneighborly support to those who experience bereavement due to the death of a loved one and to educate the community about end-of-life care and issues. Colby students are actively involved in each of these three areas.  They are trained to visit clients and families in the homes of those faced with a terminal illness; trained to provide bereavement support, particularly to children; and they have spent considerable energy and time to be educated about hospice care, end-of-life issues and volunteer work.