Brookhavenites have generally been labeled as charitable peopleby the various organizations that call upon them for assistance fordifferent causes throughout the year.

In November – National Hospice/Palliative Care Month – thecity’s big hearts will be called upon to put their wallets away andinstead give their time.

Iris Waldrop, volunteer coordinator for Hospice Ministries, Inc.- an entirely non-profit hospice agency that covers SouthwestMississippi and is one of Brookhaven’s oldest – said herorganization utilizes about 40 volunteers. She is looking to usethe 11th month’s dedication to her craft to reach out for thewilling.

“Forty sounds like a lot, but we always have a need forvolunteers,” she said. “There’s no way we could provide enoughstaff to meet all the needs we have.”

Waldrop spends much of her time actively looking for recruitsfor Hospice Ministries, combing over churches and civic groupmeetings to explain the duties of a hospice volunteer and to see ifanyone is interested.

Most of her volunteers come from the families of former clients,who never realized the necessity of hospice care until it hit home,she said. The job is probably not something that just anyone cando.

Unlike home health agencies, the mission of hospiceorganizations is not to combat illness in its patients, but ratherto shepherd them comfortably to death. All of Hospice Ministries’patients are terminally ill from any number of afflictions, andit’s the job of the hospice worker to fight off depression andstaleness and keep life as life until it’s over.

“Hospice is a lot more about learning to live until you die thanit is about dying,” Waldrop said. “It’s about quality of life. Whatcan we do to make a difference today? We take it one day at atime.”

Waldrop said her organization uses a range of personnel tofulfill its mission. Hospice teams that make home visits are oftencomposed of physicians, nurses, chaplains and home healthaides.

The staff and volunteers tend to the patient’s physical,emotional and financial needs and also perform chores like lighthousekeeping and cooking and errand-running. The same services areextended to the patient’s family members, who also need comfortingduring the difficult times that necessitate hospice services,Waldrop said.

While some hospice services charge for their work, HospiceMinistries pays for 100 percent of their supplies and services -including medicine and medical equipment – Waldrop said. She saidher organization spends vast amounts of money every year, and isfunded only through donations and fundraisers.

As long as a hospice patient is referred by a physician and hasthe assistance of a caregiver, Hospice Ministries will acceptanyone, regardless of their ability to pay, Waldrop said.

As for the patients and their families, there are plenty ofhospice agencies in the Brookhaven area to choose from.

“There’s so many hospice agencies, and we want people to beaware it’s their choice,” Waldrop said. “Not all hospice agenciesare the same, and it’s the families’ right to choose who theylike.”

While becoming personally involved with the fading life of ausually elderly patient and staying on board until that patientpasses away sounds like a tough job description, Waldrop said thereis one result of hospice volunteering that makes it all worth whilein the end.

“It’s rewarding – knowing you’ve made a difference in someone’slife,” she said. “It allows the terminally ill patient to die withdignity, as opposed to being in the hospital with rules,regulations and visiting hours. Most patients, once learning theyhave a terminal illness, have the same first wish – they want to gohome. What we do is all about the patient.”

While the work is geared toward the patient, 12-year-veteranHospice Ministries volunteer Faye Watts said the patients’ familiesmight receive the most benefit from the care.

“Sometimes the patients don’t even know I’m there, and thefamily is who is being relieved,” she said. “I guess you could sayhelping the family members is what it’s mostly about.”

Watts said she joined Hospice Ministries in the 1990s afterreading a newspaper ad and stepping up to the call. Since then, shehas had numerous hospice patients under her care, and her motherand two uncles were also comforted by hospice during their finaldays.

She said it’s easy to get attached to the patient whilevolunteering.

“It’s just like being a family member,” Watts said. “You doeverything that needs to be done – keep them fed and comfortable,entertain them and bring little gifts. Do anything to brightentheir day.”

As a family member, one would think the patient’s death would behard to get over, but Watts said the coming of more work and therelationships formed with the patient’s family makes it easier tokeep going.

“You grieve with them, but it won’t be long until you haveanother patient to get involved with,” she said. “And you alwaysfollow up. Hospice Ministries is real good about following up afterthe death – calling, sending cards, having luncheons. You get tohelp out more than just one person.”

All hospice volunteers must go through volunteer training. Tovolunteer for Hospice Ministries, interested people may callWaldrop at 601-835-1020.