Kathie Connolly Receives Hospice Volunteer Award
Kathie Connolly of Plantsville was honored recently by local home care and hospice agency, VNA HealthCare. More than 900 volunteers help the agency carry out its mission. Kathie Connolly has been a volunteer for two years, since her own family received hospice care. She knew that her experience would help her to empathize with the needs of patients and families facing end-of-life care.
Kathie’s first patient lived in a nursing home. Beyond sharing friendship with the patient, Kathie became a source of support for the woman’s daughter, listening to her and spending extra hours visiting the patient when the daughter was busy meeting challenges in her own home.
In presenting the award, Pat Wilson, hospice volunteer coordinator, said, “Kathie goes beyond the call of duty for her patients, and is willing to give generously of her time. Kathie works as an important part of the hospice care team.” Wilson continued, “Without volunteers there would be no hospice. Even the federal government recognizes their importance and requires that volunteers be a significant part of any Medicare-certified hospice. Our volunteers are required to give at least five percent of the hours that hospice staff members provide.”
For more information about volunteering with the VNA HealthCare hospice, Meals on Wheels or other programs, please contact Susan Wright, @ swright@vnahealthcare.org or (860) 493-7166.
