Southampton, NY—Committed to providing compassionate patient care, Southampton Hospital has recently adopted the national “No One Dies Alone” (NODA) program. If an individual is alone in their final hours for any reason, a volunteer is assigned by nursing management to provide comfort at the end of his or her life. Nursing experience is not necessary. So far, 18 volunteer members in the program have been trained. In some cases, a volunteer will sit with a patient until a family member arrives or to give families respite during their vigil. These compassionate companions stay by the side of a patient in four-hour shifts, holding a hand, making sure the patient is comfortable and providing the emotional support they need.
Patricia A. Darcey, VP and Chief Nursing Officer comments, “Every life has value at Southampton Hospital, and we feel strongly that no one should be alone without comfort and companionship as they pass from this life. To find out more about this volunteer opportunity, please contact Jane Edelman, RN, OCN in the Hospital’s Palliative Care Program at (631) 726-3200.”
No One Dies Alone was started in Oregon in 2001 when a dying man asked a nurse to sit with him. She agreed, but first needed to make her rounds. When she returned, the man had passed away, and the nurse resolved to enlist volunteers to stay with patients who were alone and close to death. The program has steadily grown throughout hospitals around the country.
