Not all angels have wings. Some of them look remarkably like human beings who just want to help others at their time of greatest need.
Quite a few of them volunteer for Hospice Compassus, including eight specially trained people who are members of the Alliance of Neighbors Giving End of Life Support (ANGELS).
“They assist patients who are at the end of life within approximately 24 to 48 hours,” said Teresa Severs, volunteer coordinator for Hospice Compassus, formerly known as Community Hospices of America. “All our patients are eligible to receive this service. The main goal of the volunteers is to sit with patients, provide personal touch and comfort so the patient does not die alone.”
Sarah Riggs, who lives west of Fort Scott, is coordinator of the ANGELS team. When there is need for an “Angel Watch,” she contacts volunteers and coordinates schedules.
“We’re such a team,” Riggs said. “If one person can’t go, another one can.”
Each watch supposedly lasts about four hours, but that’s variable.
“We’ve all sat with patients longer than four hours,” Riggs said. “Sometimes a patient is comfortable with you and doesn’t want you to leave. In that situation, we do not leave.”
“We’re there for the family, too,” said Andy Root, Pittsburg. “Death is scary for a lot of people. There are things going on that the family thinks may not be normal, and we can assure them that it’s perfectly normal.”
He added that volunteers are trained to recognize signs of pain. Volunteers give the patient medication, but can call the hospice nurse, or other authorized medical personnel who can provide painkilling medication.
Death follows its own schedule, and volunteers can be called at any time.
“We’ve all been called out at 3 a.m.,” Root said.
“I keep a to-go bag in my truck at all times,” Riggs added. “My husband is very supportive. He doesn’t say a word, he just starts up my truck to get it warmed up, and gets some snacks together for me.”
Some calls may take volunteers out in inclement weather or to remote locations.
“My last ANGEL call was during that last big storm we had,” Root said. “But I have four-wheel drive.”
Norma Mendenhall said that she first heard of hospice at church.
“At that time I wasn’t married, so I thought that it wouldn’t disturb anybody if I had to get up and go somewhere in middle of the night,” she said.
She is now married, but fortunately her husband is also supportive.
Linda Frazier said her first acquaintance with hospice was when Dr. Kenneth Zabel made the first efforts to establish a hospice wing at Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center.
“This hospice took care of my stepfather when he died three years ago,” Root said. “My father died without hospice service, and it was horrible.”
Formerly a respiratory therapist, he encountered hospice first at the University of Kansas Medical Center. He’s now a full-time Pittsburg State University student and intends to become a professional working in the hospice area.
The ANGELS also serve as regular hospice volunteers, which can involve friendly visits, writing letters, reading to patients, light housekeeping, running errands, meal preparation and hair care.
“We visit and talk with people, sometimes watch DVDs together,” Riggs said. “I’ve been making videos of my billy goat, Mr. Ned, and people just love to watch them. Most of the people in this area were farmers or grew up on farms, and they just love to see farm animals.”
She said that she did not choose to become involved with hospice.
“God chose it for me,” Riggs said. “It takes a special person to do this. We see things that would blow people’s minds away.”
It can be challenging, and sometimes the ANGELS talk among themselves “kind of like group therapy,” Riggs said. “We’re all religious, and we all pray.”
Despite the challenges, it’s worth it.
“The rewards are enormous,” Riggs said. “Somebody asked me what I get paid to do this. I said, ‘I don’t get paid in money, but I’m far richer than you’ll ever be’.”
Anyone interested in becoming a Hospice Compassus volunteer may contact Teresa Severs at 232-9898.
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Not all angels have wings. Some of them look remarkably like human beings who just want to help others at their time of greatest need.
Quite a few of them volunteer for Hospice Compassus, including eight specially trained people who are members of the Alliance of Neighbors Giving End of Life Support (ANGELS).
“They assist patients who are at the end of life within approximately 24 to 48 hours,” said Teresa Severs, volunteer coordinator for Hospice Compassus, formerly known as Community Hospices of America. “All our patients are eligible to receive this service. The main goal of the volunteers is to sit with patients, provide personal touch and comfort so the patient does not die alone.”
Sarah Riggs, who lives west of Fort Scott, is coordinator of the ANGELS team. When there is need for an “Angel Watch,” she contacts volunteers and coordinates schedules.
“We’re such a team,” Riggs said. “If one person can’t go, another one can.”
Each watch supposedly lasts about four hours, but that’s variable.
“We’ve all sat with patients longer than four hours,” Riggs said. “Sometimes a patient is comfortable with you and doesn’t want you to leave. In that situation, we do not leave.”
“We’re there for the family, too,” said Andy Root, Pittsburg. “Death is scary for a lot of people. There are things going on that the family thinks may not be normal, and we can assure them that it’s perfectly normal.”
He added that volunteers are trained to recognize signs of pain. Volunteers give the patient medication, but can call the hospice nurse, or other authorized medical personnel who can provide painkilling medication.
Death follows its own schedule, and volunteers can be called at any time.
“We’ve all been called out at 3 a.m.,” Root said.
“I keep a to-go bag in my truck at all times,” Riggs added. “My husband is very supportive. He doesn’t say a word, he just starts up my truck to get it warmed up, and gets some snacks together for me.”
Some calls may take volunteers out in inclement weather or to remote locations.
“My last ANGEL call was during that last big storm we had,” Root said. “But I have four-wheel drive.”
Norma Mendenhall said that she first heard of hospice at church.
“At that time I wasn’t married, so I thought that it wouldn’t disturb anybody if I had to get up and go somewhere in middle of the night,” she said.
She is now married, but fortunately her husband is also supportive.
Linda Frazier said her first acquaintance with hospice was when Dr. Kenneth Zabel made the first efforts to establish a hospice wing at Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center.
“This hospice took care of my stepfather when he died three years ago,” Root said. “My father died without hospice service, and it was horrible.”
Formerly a respiratory therapist, he encountered hospice first at the University of Kansas Medical Center. He’s now a full-time Pittsburg State University student and intends to become a professional working in the hospice area.
The ANGELS also serve as regular hospice volunteers, which can involve friendly visits, writing letters, reading to patients, light housekeeping, running errands, meal preparation and hair care.
“We visit and talk with people, sometimes watch DVDs together,” Riggs said. “I’ve been making videos of my billy goat, Mr. Ned, and people just love to watch them. Most of the people in this area were farmers or grew up on farms, and they just love to see farm animals.”
She said that she did not choose to become involved with hospice.
“God chose it for me,” Riggs said. “It takes a special person to do this. We see things that would blow people’s minds away.”
It can be challenging, and sometimes the ANGELS talk among themselves “kind of like group therapy,” Riggs said. “We’re all religious, and we all pray.”
Despite the challenges, it’s worth it.
“The rewards are enormous,” Riggs said. “Somebody asked me what I get paid to do this. I said, ‘I don’t get paid in money, but I’m far richer than you’ll ever be’.”
Anyone interested in becoming a Hospice Compassus volunteer may contact Teresa Severs at 232-9898.
