Volunteers Needed at Henry Ford Hospice

Madison Heights, MI – Henry Ford Hospice is seeking volunteers who want to make a positive contribution to people in need. Volunteers are needed to offer companionship and family support for loved ones who are terminally ill in the patient’s home, nursing home facilities or in the hospital.

Opportunities are available throughout southeast Michigan to help with the adult and pediatric hospice programs, the hospice residence, as well as SandCastles, a grief support program for children and their families. Flexible schedules are provided.

For further information please contact 1-800-492-9909 or visit www.henryford.com/hospice.

Genesys Volunteers’ donations near $4 million mark

Genesee County –  At the annual Genesys Volunteer Appreciation luncheon held last month, Genesys Volunteers presented Genesys Regional Medical Center President Betsy Aderholdt with a check for $160,000. The group of some 630 men and women have donated a total of $3,993,000 to Genesys since the medical center opened at Health Park in February 1997.

Genesys volunteers have earmarked the $160,000 to go toward equipping a Special Care Level IIB Nursery in the Family Birthing Center, helping to purchase an orthopedic navigation system (new technology used in orthopedic surgery), and buying a new courtesy coach to escort patients and visitors to and from the hospital parking lot.

Over the years, Genesys volunteers have raised money for: Genesys Health Park nature trails, a 31-bed hospital expansion, a third cardiac catheterization lab, a mammotome machine for women’s diagnostic care, a digital ultrasound system for the Genesys Heart Institute, the Paul J. Rocky Roll Cardiac Rapid Diagnostic Center, a prostate seed implant machine for cancer patients, an ultrasound powervision angiography machine, the Genesys Sanctuary Garden (an outdoor chapel and place for reflection located on one of the nature trails), the EverGreen (which includes a greenhouse on the Health Park campus where volunteers grow and sell flowers and plants), seven courtesy coaches, and much more.

To earn this money the organization conducts fundraising events throughout the year that include book sales, jewelry sales and nut sales at Christmas. In addition, proceeds from the Genesys Acorn Gift and Floral Shop, the EverGreen
and the annual Charity Ball go to support Genesys patients and the community.

This year’s Charity Ball will take place Saturday, Nov. 14.

In addition to fundraising events held throughout the year, Genesys volunteers donate their time and talents throughout the hospital in these areas: surgery waiting rooms, the information desk, family lounges, as courtesy coach drivers, flower arranging and delivery, employee health, eucharistic ministry, pet therapy, the Genesys hip and knee program, and two new services: emergency department liaisons and FERNS (ForEveR Nurses).

Family Focus volunteers (liaisons in the emergency department) are specially-trained to serve as liaisons in the emergency department – greeting visitors, comforting patients and families in the waiting areas and treatment
rooms, and providing updates from the clinical staff to patients and families.

FERNS are a group of three retired registered nurses who work in the Quality department tabulating clinical data, helping at educational seminars for nurses, conducting hand hygiene inservices and inspections throughout the
hospital, and assisting in other areas within the Quality department.

At the annual appreciation luncheon, volunteers elected a new board. They are:
Edward Hugan from Holly: president
Janet Barker from Grand Blanc: president-elect
Linda Coppola from Holly: recording secretary
Dennis Wagner from Grand Blanc: finance director
Stan Byk from Grand Blanc: communications director
Dawn Chalmers from Clarkston: fundraising director
Peggy Newell from Grand Blanc: membership director
Dorothy Franke from Holly: program director
Edward McLean from Grand Blanc: service director
Connie Ozanich from Fenton: past president advisor

For more information on Genesys Volunteers, call 810-606-5100.