The Young @ Heart Chorus™ was formed in Northampton in 1982. This group of inspiring elders comes from all walks of life and brings various levels of performing experience to their spirited performances. They have filled concert venues all over the world and have been the topic of a feature length, award-winning film. Hospice of The Fisher Home opened its doors in 2006, fulfilling the founders, dreams of providing end of life care in a home-like setting. Hospice homes are being established all over the country and abroad to serve those whose disease processes can no longer be managed at home. The Hospice of the Fisher Home is delighted to be the beneficiary of the proceeds of the Young @ Heart Chorus in Concert with Friends, at Chapin Auditorium, Mount Holyoke College, on Sunday November 1, 4:00 PM Use this link to arrange for payment to attend.

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Volunteer

Volunteers in hospice find it personally gratifying, intellectually stimulating, and emotionally meaningful to assist those in need at a critical point in their lives. Many volunteers are introduced to hospice through the death of a family member and understand firsthand the value of hospice care. Volunteers consistently report that helping the terminally ill through hospice is not about dying but about living.

• Support for patients. This can include visiting, reading, taking walks, writing letters, bringing in music, supervising visits with pets, even massage therapy by volunteers with the necessary skills.
• Bereavement support programs. Hospice volunteers can work closely with the hospice's professional bereavement staff in duties that range from assisting as a support group facilitator to serving refreshments and helping with mailings to clients and families.
• Fund-raising and administrative work. A volunteer with clerical skills can serve a hospice by helping in the office with simple administrative duties. Fundraising responsibilities can range from preparing mailings or thank you letters to organizing fundraising events and contacting possible donors.
• Work in the store. Volunteers sign up for few-hour shifts in our downtown Amherst store. All proceeds will go to The Fisher Home.
• Respite and support for family members. You can assist with shopping or household maintenance, or allow family caregivers the opportunity to take care of necessary errands and get some time away from the house. Family members also appreciate a visit from a compassionate friend who understands what they are going through.
• Child care assistance. This can include help with babysitting, picking up children from school or providing necessary transportation to club meetings or sporting events and practices. Volunteers have also made invaluable contributions with family pet care.

It is important that volunteers understand the history of hospice, and are aware of the specific ways their local hospices work to serve the community. Depending on area service, additional training may be available or necessary. To ensure that all volunteers are equipped for the challenge of working with end-of-life patients, The Fisher Home requires that volunteers complete extensive orientation and training sessions, as well as submitting to a routine background check.

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