Nurse Volunteers Bring an Extra Dose of TLC to Hospice Patients

Hospice volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds, but they all provide compassion and companionship, something that is second nature to life-long nurses. Terry Granger has been a registered nurse for 30 years, working at Frederick Health Hospital as a bedside nurse before transitioning to case management.

During her career, she has witnessed the impact of hospice care. “These professionals offer care and compassion that is immeasurable and priceless to the patient as well as their loved ones during an intensely emotional time,” she said. Terry has volunteered with Hospice since 2018, offering a compassionate presence to dying patients and their families. “I’ve done that throughout my nursing career, so I feel like I know what to say, although a lot of it involves just listening,” she said.

And last summer, Terry saw hospice from a different perspective when her mother-in-law received hospice care. “I witnessed how they tend to the physical, mental and spiritual needs of the patient while also providing invaluable support to all involved in the patient’s care.”The experience, although deeply personal, was affirmation for Terry of why she volunteers. “It’s truly an honor to be able to volunteer with Hospice and ‘give back a little,’” she said.