Caregiver Support Available in Frontenace County

By Jeff Green

Barb Mundell is the community liaison for the volunteer hospice and bereavement services program that is available to families throughout Frontenac County and Addington Highlands.

The program, which is coordinated by Katie Buckley, is operated out of Sydenham at Southern Frontenac Community Services, but is also available through Rural Frontenac Community Services, in Sharbot Lake, and Land O'Lakes Community Services, in Northbrook.

“We run caregiver and bereavement support groups,” said Mundell, “as well as a volunteer hospice visiting service.”

The visiting service supports individuals and their fami- lies in a variety of ways, depending on the relationship that develops between the volunteers and people who have a life limiting or terminal illness.

Hospice Volunteers make home visits and provide companionship, to assist with errands or to watch over as the client rests. The program allows caregivers the time to do what needs to be done at home or elsewhere while having the peace of mind knowing their loved one is being cared for.

“Hospice Volunteers do not replace, but are meant to supplement support provided by family, friends and other professional care providers of the Palliative Care Team,” said Mundell.

The COVID-19 pandemic, and resulting social distancing measures, made home visits untenable for a couple of years, and are still a limiting factor, but volunteers are needed more than ever, now that visits are possible again.

“With such a large area to cover, we are always looking for people,” she said.

Volunteers are matched with families, usually based on location, and volunteers receive training before-hand. The support that volunteers provide varies quite a bit