Welcome Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Volunteers!
Here is where you can find information that is valuable to volunteers and log your time. We appreciate all that you do to serve our patients, families and mission. You truly put the heart in our mission.
Meet the Team
Marti Deeter
Volunteer Services
Coordinator
910.902.9908
Marti.Deeter@LifeCare.org
Marti manages volunteer activities in New Hanover County and much of the department’s on boarding, credentialing, and reporting functions.
Laura Long
Volunteer & Veteran Programs Coordinator
910.620.5062
Laura.Long@LifeCare.org
Laura manages agency-wide volunteer programs, such as pet therapy and Meals of Love, as well as oversees the agency participation in the We Honor Veterans program.
Abby Berjansky
Community Engagement & Volunteer Coordinator
843.995.3429
Abby.Berjansky@LifeCare.org
Abby performs community outreach and manages volunteer activities in Horry County and our entire South Carolina service area.
Robbie Cribb
Community Engagement & Volunteer Coordinator
910.604.1052
Robbie.Cribb@LifeCare.org
Robbie performs community outreach and manages volunteer activities in Columbus, Bladen, and Robeson Counties, as well as at the Whiteville Care Center.
Stacey Stewart
Community Engagement & Volunteer Coordinator
910.602.8918
Stacey.Stewart@LifeCare.org
Stacey performs community outreach and manages volunteer activities in Brunswick County, as well as at the Brunswick Care Center.
Michele Bennett
Community Engagement & Volunteer Coordinator
910-602-8745
Michele.Bennett@LifeCare.org
Michele performs community outreach and manages volunteer activities in Onslow and Pender Counties.
General Volunteer Department contact information – 910.796.7900 Volunteer.Department@LifeCare.org
Volunteer Opportunities
Our support services for home patients and families are for companionship and respite. The standard care plan calls for visits one to four times per month, not to exceed four hours per visit. See Volunteer Guidelines for more information regarding task expectations. The activities you can do with patients are numerous. Click here to see a sample of different activities you can enjoy with your patients.
If you’re interested in helping at-home patients and families, request an assignment from your volunteer coordinator.
There are many opportunities to serve at the three hospice care centers including the front desk, patient and family visits, vigil volunteers and patient sitters. Additional training is required. Below are links to sign up to volunteer at the front desk, please contact your coordinator if you would like to serve in any of the additional hospice care center capacities.
Front Desk
Serve as the receptionist, greet and assist visitors, oversee sign in sheets for Meals of Love and other volunteers.
Daily Shifts during visiting hours of 8:00 am – 8:00 pm. Shifts are typically four hours. Recurring shifts are available upon request.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY
Dr. Robert M. Fales Hospice Pavilion
1406 Physicians Drive
Wilmington, NCClick here to schedule a shift to greet family and guests at the Wilmington hospice care center
BRUNSWICK COUNTY
SECU Hospice House of Brunswick
955 Mercy Lane
Bolivia, NCClick here to schedule a shift to greet family and guests at the Bolivia hospice care center
COLUMBUS COUNTY
Angel House Hospice Care Center
206 Warrior Trail Road
Whiteville, NCClick here to schedule a shift to greet families and guests at the Whiteville hospice care center
Lower Cape Fear LifeCare is proud to work with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) as a member of the We Honor Veterans program. We are a Level 5 Partner through the We Honor Veterans program; the highest level attainable in the program. As a part of being a Level 5 Partner, veteran volunteers participate in the following programs.
Vet-to-Vet Patient Visits: We pair veteran volunteers with veteran patients to provide social and emotional support, comradery and respite for families and caregivers.
Veteran Pinning Ceremonies: Veteran volunteer pinning teams provide a veteran pinning and certificate presentation as a salute to a patient’s military service. Click here to watch the Brunswick Blue Boys perform a Veteran Pinning Ceremony.
To find out more about the program, contact Laura Long, volunteer programs coordinator, at Laura.Long@lifecare.org or 910.620.5062.
Pet Therapy: Volunteers with pets that have obtained pet therapy certifications visit with home and/or hospice care center patients and their families.
Music Therapy: Accomplished musicians create an appropriate relaxed and soothing atmosphere for our patients and their families at home, hospice care centers, or events (auditions/references may be required).Click here to provide pet or music therapy at the Dr. Robert M.Fales Hospice Pavilion in Wilmington
Throughout the year, Lower Cape Fear LifeCare’s Foundation hosts several events. Volunteer support is often appreciated in making these events run smoothly: Tile Tribute Ceremonies, Last Chance for White Pants, and Cape Fear Festival of Trees.Our Community Outreach team also participates in various events and needs volunteer assistance from time to time.
Let your volunteer services coordinator know you are interested in assisting at LCFL events.
2024 Cape Fear Festival of Trees
CALLING ALL ELVES! The 2024 Cape Fear Festival of Trees is just around the corner: Nov. 22-Dec. 30 at the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher. We need volunteers to help set-up, decorate and break down. We also need greeters to share information about the festival; our mission, services and programs; and assist in taking donations and selling wreaths. Greeters work in four-hour shifts throughout the festival.Visit the Cape Fear Festival of Trees Sign Up Genius to reserve your spot for orientation, set up, tree decorating, break down and to greet guests.
Offer administrative assistance through assembling admission binders, performing data entry, preparing mailings, and writing letters and thank you notes. Many of these opportunities are on an as needed basis.
Check with your volunteer service coordinator to find out more about administrative assistance opportunities.
The assembly of admission binders is done at the corporate office in New Hanover each Tuesday from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm and has its own sign-up genius:Click here to schedule a time to assemble admission packets
You never know when a Volunteer Pop-Up Opportunity will occur. Sometimes volunteers are needed to participate at event, assist with a bucket list wish, or who knows what.Keep a watch on your email for Pop Up Opps that may interest you!
Now looking for volunteers to help with fall tribute ceremonies in Brunswick, New Hanover and Horry counties. Click the “Events” drop down for information and to sign up!
About Bucket List Wishes
Lower Cape Fear LifeCare’s team members understand that there are needs that patients and families have at this time of life that go beyond what hospice benefits offer. The team-funded Angel Fund is there to fulfill these needs, including bucket list wishes. Below are some patient and family wishes that team members have fulfilled.
Tosha goes skydiving for the first time in her life
Oak Island’s Tan Man spends one more special evening with friends
David Smith spends a beautiful day out on the waterway with his family
Jimbo visits his family’s hunting land in Brunswick County with his sisters and brother-in-law
You can make a difference in the lives of people, caregivers and families living with a dementia-related illness. With specialized training, you can provide companionship to someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia while giving much-needed respite to their caregiver(s).Ask your volunteer services coordinator about how to volunteer with LifeCare Memory Partners to learn more.
To learn more about the LifeCare Memory Partners program, click here.
Volunteers, churches, community organizations and individuals are welcome to donate meals to our Meals of Love. This program ensures families staying with a loved one at one at our hospice care centers always have meals on hand so their time can be focused on just being with their loved one.
To find out more about the program and to schedule to provide meals whether on a recurring or a one-time basis, please contact:
Wilmington Care Center
Cass Doran
910-398-4400
CassDoran@gmail.comBrunswick Care Center
Fran Pasquel
914-806-0266
frgero@optonline.netWhiteville Care Center
Laura Long
910-620-5062
Laura.Long@LifeCare.orgWe appreciate the individual skills and talents our volunteers bring to support our mission, patients and their families. Click here to view our current menu of services.
We love to know more about our volunteers! We also like to share the wonderful, compassionate people who have chosen to volunteer to help hospice patients and families with those in our community.
These stories can help those on and thinking about receiving hospice care understand a bit more about our volunteer program and the people who make up our volunteer team. It also helps encourage others to join our volunteer team.
If you’d like to share your volunteer story, why you volunteer, how it impacts your life, what giving your time and talents mean to the patients and families you serve, etc. – we’d love to hear about it. You can share your story on our website by clicking here.
Please remember, due to HIPAA regulations, do not include a photo of you that shows you with a patient or family member.
Server Newsletter
Reading the monthly Server newsletter counts as volunteer time!
If you take the time to read your monthly Server…thank you for keeping up on all the important information, education and upcoming events from the LFCL volunteer department.
Why let us know? To remain an active volunteer, you need only one hour of service each quarter (we hope you do more!). When you let us know you’ve read The Server, we will record your continuing education credit and you can remain official!
Education
When is this month’s monthly meeting?
Check out either of the calendars found in the Quick Links section of the webpage (Right Hand side on desktop and bottom on mobile device). Once a quarter, volunteer meetings are in-person and the remaining meetings within the quarter are via a ZOOM call.How do I join the ZOOM call for the monthly meeting?
The link, meeting ID, password, and phone number are the same every month.Click the link below to join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/2947198640?pwd=q08fyXsaP2S02AdquJqlPCB7TCdjQ8.1Meeting ID: 294 719 8640
Passcode: Volunteer
Phone only: 646-931-3860How do I document my volunteering time?
Easy! Go to the Quick Links section of the webpage (right hand border on desktop; scroll to bottom on mobile) and click on “Activity Log.” Simply complete our electronic ‘contact sheet’, which is a quick 5-minute form that is submitted to us electronically for us to enter your time spent volunteering.How do I create a bookmark to the electronic ‘contact sheet’ on my iPhone or Android?
What do I do in working a shift at the Care Center front desk?
Click here to get an instruction sheet on working at the hospice care center front desk.
Where do I find the Medical Record number?
On the Patient Information sheet, the Medical Record number is also known as the ‘Code:’, located in the upper left cornerCOMMON TERMS & ABBREVIATIONS
ACHC = Accreditation Commission for Health Care, a non-profit healthcare accrediting organization
Face Sheet = also known as Patient Information sheet
HIPAA = Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
HPA = Healthcare Power of Attorney
IDT = Interdisciplinary Team
LCFL = Lower Cape Fear LifeCare
MP = LifeCare Memory Partners
NOK = Next of Kin
PCG = Primary Care Giver
PT = Patient
SW = Social Worker
VC = Volunteer Coordinator
VO = Volunteer
Here are a few resources to help you understand hospice care and how volunteers support LCFL’s mission, patients and families:
Lower Cape Fear LifeCare has a variety of videos on its YouTube channel that you might find interesting. Below are links to some suggested videos:
LifeCare Answers
LifeCareAnswers (LifeCareAnswers.org) is a library of short videos that answers some of the most frequently asked questions about hospice care while dispelling many of the misconceptions about hospice. Please share this page with anyone you know who has questions about hospice care.
Patient and Family Journeys
Mary Grace shares her hospice journey with her husband Harry
Cynthia shares her hospice journey with her husband and hospice volunteer Jack.
Helen shares her own journey in hospice care and encourages anyone with a life-limiting illness to get the care and support it offers.
Tera shares her hospice journey with her mom who is living with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Terri shares her hospice journey with her mom and dad, and how her care team became like family.
Vet-to-Vet Volunteers/We Honor Veterans
The Blue Boys perform a Veteran Pinning Ceremony
The Blue Boys Vet-to-Vet Volunteers talk about why honoring and supporting fellow veterans is so important to them.
LifeCare Memory Partners
Learn about our LifeCare Memory Partners program and how it supports families living with a dementia-related illness.
Bucket List Wishes
Lower Cape Fear LifeCare’s team members understand that there are needs that patients and families have at this time of life that go beyond what hospice benefits offer. The team-funded Angel Fund is there to fulfill these needs, including bucket list wishes. Below are some patient and family wishes that team members have fulfilled.
Tosha goes skydiving for the first time in her life
Oak Island’s Tan Man spends one more special evening with friends
David Smith spends a beautiful day out on the waterway with his family
Jimbo visits his family’s hunting land in Brunswick County with his sisters and brother-in-law
Policies and Procedures
It is very important that volunteers adhere to agency guidelines to ensure a safe and positive experience for patient, their loved ones and our volunteers. Please read be familiar with Lower Cape Fear LifeCare’s Volunteer Guidelines.
Below are brief explanations of several LCFL policies that pertain to volunteers that we reviewed during orientation. If you would like a copy of the official policy, please contact your volunteer services coordinator.
STANDARD PRECAUTIONS & INFECTION CONTROL: I have reviewed the annual Infection Control training update and understand the importance of practicing these Standard Precautions as a volunteer of Lower Cape Fear LifeCare.
RECEIPT AND UNDERSTANDING OF ABUSE/NEGLECT POLICIES: I acknowledge that I have reviewed and read the abuse/neglect policy and the sexual abuse policy or have had them explained to me. I understand that the organization will not tolerate any employee, volunteer, board member, or third party who commits any type of abuse. Disciplinary actions will be taken against those who are found to have committed abuse and/or neglect, including sexual abuse.
I understand that it is my responsibility to abide by all rules contained in the policies and to report incidents of abuse as set forth in the policies.
HOSPICE PATIENTS’ BILL OF RIGHTS: I acknowledge that I have reviewed and read the Hospice Patients’ Bill of Rights and Responsibilities and understand that hospice organizations, staff and volunteers have an obligation to protect and promote the rights of their patients.
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT (CUSTOMER SERVICE/COMPLAINTS): I acknowledge that I have reviewed and read the Customer Service Satisfaction Program policy and understand its importance in providing quality service. I also understand the procedure for communicating, recording and dealing with unsolicited customer complaints.
EVENT REPORTING: I acknowledge that I have reviewed and read the Event Reporting policy and understand that I have a responsibility in participating in the identification, monitoring, investigation, reporting and documentation of all incidents, accidents, variance or unusual occurrences to patients, families or personnel.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST: I acknowledge that I have reviewed and read the Conflict of Interest Policy and have signed the agency Conflict of Interest Agreement, disclosing in writing any direct interest or relation I or my spouse may have with private business entities, firms or corporations. I also understand that should new interests arise after signing the Agreement, i am to communicate and document them on a new form.
CORPORATE COMPLIANCE AND ETHICAL DECISIONS: I acknowledge that I have reviewed and read the Ethical Process for Informed Decision Making policy and the Corporate Compliance policy and understand the procedure for communicating and handling ethical issues,
CONFIDENTIALITY: I acknowledge that I have reviewed and read the Confidentiality policy, reviewed training on HIPAA requirements, and understand the necessity to guarantee and uphold patient/family privacy standards.
VOLUNTEER GUIDELINES: I acknowledge that I have reviewed and read the Volunteer Guidelines, and understand the importance of adhering to all listed policies. I agree that per the stated guidelines. I am not to provide transportation, receive compensation, and administer or handle medication. I further agree that I will document all volunteer activity.
MORE VOLUNTEER POLICIES OF NOTE:
Active Volunteerism: Volunteers are considered to be active in the following circumstances:
- the volunteer has provided any volunteer service during the past quarter
- the volunteer’s personnel record is current and compliance requirements are met
- the volunteer followed all agency policies and procedures
Volunteer Selection: Selection of volunteers is based on the completion of the following requirements:
- application, including an acceptable criminal background check
- completion of volunteer orientation and initial competencies
- TB blood screen
- a review of agency policies and procedures
- an interview and observation by LCFL Volunteer Department staff
Please note that documentation of a COVID vaccination is no longer a requirement for volunteer participation.
Volunteer Utilization: LCFL will document and maintain a volunteer staff sufficient to provide services in an amount that, at minimum, equals five percent of the total patient care hours of all paid hospice employees. The five percent cost savings will be calculated separately for North Carolina and South Carolina, due to individual state requirements.
Also, following the death of a loved one, it is recommended that surviving family members wait a minimum of one year before becoming a patient care volunteer.
Volunteer Documentation: All volunteer hours and patient/family contacts are to be documented per established processes and should be submitted no later than one week after the date of service.
All volunteers are required to submit annual competency forms which are sent to volunteers as they complete each year anniversary. Volunteers will be contacted by their Volunteer Coordinator when it is time to complete the form, typically sent via DocuSign.
QUICK LINKS
LCFL Apparel
Hi Volunteers! It’s finally here! For years, volunteers have asked about getting access to apparel with our agency’s logo/brand. As promised, Volunteers now have the opportunity to purchase LCFL shirts, jackets, hats, bags, etc. that feature our logo. All through an online store that has been created exclusively for you!
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE APPAREL
FAQs:
- Uses the Pay Pal feature to pay with a credit card.
- Purchases will be shipped to our Corporate Office with customized bags for each volunteer. LCFL’s volunteer coordinators will facilitate distribution.
- Orders take about four to six weeks to arrive.
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