| SMHC
NOSDA program hosts training
St. Mary’s Hospital will sponsor training sessions for people interested in volunteering with the No One Shall Die Alone program. The NOSDA program ensures that people with limited or no local family or friends have someone by their bedside during their last days or hours. NOSDA utilizes trained volunteers to sit with dying patients in a hospital or long term care facility. The training sessions will be held in the SMHC downstairs conference room on Monday, January 21 and Wednesday, January 30. Facilitators for the training will be Sr. Corinne Forsman, SMHC Mission Integration Coordinator and Helen Huntley, volunteer. “Families of the dying often compliment our hospital nursing staff for their dedication and devotion to their family members in their last hours, but, obviously, our staff are often called away to respond to other patients,” said Sr. Corinne. “Our NOSDA volunteers help fill that void and let the patient and family know that someone will be with them during the final phase. The volunteers are also willing to work within other facilities.” According to their literature, NOSDA is an “…ecumenical ministry dedicated to providing a loving presence from the community at large by being present as support to those in need.” Clearwater Valley Hospital in Orofino also supports a NOSDA program. Both hospital serve the Kamiah and Kooskia area. Volunteers from those communities have been through the training session. In the program, volunteers are available to provide support day or night in two hour shifts. They do not provide medical assistance in any way. The volunteer is there only as a presence and to provide the physical ‘hand holding’ for the dying patient. If you would like more information about the program please call Sr. Corinne Forsman, SMHC, 962-3251. Registration is not required for the training sessions. SMHC and Monastery offer to host meeting Representatives from St. Mary’s Hospital and St. Gertrude’s Monastery in Cottonwood have offered to host a meeting for people interested in exploring investment opportunities to build and administer a retirement/assisted living center in the area. According to Casey Meza, CEO, SMH only one couple has responded with interest. “I know there are a lot of people interested in having a center for themselves when they retire or for their parents as they age, but what is needed are people who would consider investing in such a project,” said Meza. “Due to the reimbursement structure for acute care facilities such as our hospital, it is not financially feasible for St. Mary’s to consider building and administering a long term care or assisted living facility The hospital and the monastery would facilitate a meeting with possible investors and people with expertise if there are additional people interested in investing. “We would set up an initial meeting and assist in any way we could to help others meet this community need,” said Meza. Interested investors should call and leave their name and phone number with the SMHC switchboard, 962-3251. |
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