CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — When people are diagnosed with a terminal illness, many can feel lonely or fall into a depression. One local hospice organization is trying to change that by brightening their patients' spirits through art and pet therapy, among many other things.
Hospice care is for people who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Often, when that happens, many people can feel lonely or fall into a depression, so Harbor Hospice of Corpus Christi is trying to change that through the power of companionship and volunteering.
"We have a couple of music therapy volunteers, and every time we go see their patients it just makes their day,” said volunteer coordinator Sarah Head.
But you don't have to be musically inclined to volunteer your time.
Head says they're looking for people who enjoy reading, doing art therapy and pet therapy, among many other activities. Even just talking to patients or playing games with them helps.
Hospice patients come from all walks of life, and they expect their volunteers will too.
All they're asking is for folks who can spend a few hours a week with someone who just wants companionship
“We like to find those pairing of passions -- of volunteers that are wanting to give back to the community and to also make a friend," said Chelsea Cook, who works in the hospice's marketing department. "I mean it’s about relationships at this point."
Volunteers can choose how many patients they're able to visit over the course of a week, but Harbor Hospice hopes the more time volunteers spend with patients, the higher their patients' spirits will be.
To apply to be a volunteer, you can reach Sarah Head at 361-452-3592 .
Currently the therapy dogs used at Harbor Hospice – CC are recruited from Go Team Therapy Dogs.