Mt. Airy-NC- Mountain Valley Hospice & Palliative Care depends upon volunteers to augment and enhance our compassionate care of patients who are at the end of life.

December 26, 2012 "Include Volunteering as New Year's Resolution" Mount Airy, NC - Mountain Valley Hospice & Palliative Care depends upon volunteers to augment and enhance our compassionate care of patients who are at the end of life. Today, however, the need for that care is growing, especially in Wilkes County, and Southwest Virginia. "We are serving an increasing number of families, and that's why it's so important that we recruit more volunteers", said Sheila Jones, Director of Marketing for Mountain Valley Hospice & Palliative Care. "Our goal is to provide the best possible care for our patients, and hospice volunteers are essential in meeting that goal. I hope folks in this area will make volunteering a part of their New Year's Resolutions", said Jones. All hospice volunteers must undergo a background check, possess a valid driver's license, and have a desire to help families during their time of need. Hospice volunteers can select from the following duties: · Read or sing to patients · Provide a brief respite for a weary caregiver · Provide emotional support for the patient and family · Run errands · Offer a smile and a kind word · Bring in a newspaper or talk about current events · Work on a scrapbook with the patient · Rub lotion on the patient's hands · Provide special emotional support for patients who are veterans · Help the family understand what is happening · Be a good listener · Prepare a meal for patients who receive hospice care at home · Perform light household chores, such as folding laundry · Assist with family's in bereavement F for more information about volunteering please call Pat Younger at 1-888-789-2922 _____ ABOUT MOUNTAIN VALLEY HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE Mountain Valley Hospice & Palliative Care is a nonprofit organization serving the terminally ill in Surry, Yadkin and the 14 surrounding counties. Through its team of trained specialists, health-care professionals and volunteers, Mountain Valley Hospice addresses the growing need for compassionate hospice care through offices in Yadkinville, Elkin, Pilot Mountain, Mount Airy, NC, and Stuart and Galax, Va. In March 2009 Mountain Valley Hospice & Palliative Care started serving patients and families at the Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice home in Dobson, NC. The Woltz Hospice Home is a state of the art hospice facility featuring 20 patient suites with individual outdoor patios, a spa room and many more patient comforts. For their families, there is an old-time soda shop, children's play room, and many more amenities to keep them comfortable and close by their loved one during this time when families are needed most. It is designed to be truly Close to Home.