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Monday, November 1, 2021
As reported by Nikki Brahm, The Waukesha Freeman
Waukesha County community members who are in the final months of life will have a new choice for in-home hospice care since Agrace, a nonprofit health care agency, announced they will be expanding their services into the county.
Since its founding in 1978, Agrace has steadily grown throughout south central Wisconsin for decades, serving those in need of hospice care. According to their website, Agrace serves individuals in Grant, Richland, Iowa, Lafayette, Dane, Green, Rock, Walworth, Jefferson, Columbia, Marquette, Sauk, Richland and more counties.
Agrace’s other locations include regional offices in Platteville and Baraboo, and hospice inpatient units and residences in Madison and Janesville.
The nonprofit is expanding to serve the Waukesha County community, with new staff and office headquarters located in Oconomowoc. The location in Oconomowoc will not have patient beds.
Liz Kopling, director of marketing & communications, said their new headquarters will be located at 1227 Corporate Center Drive, Suite 202, Oconomowoc.
“The majority of hospice patients that Agrace serves live in their home (whether) that be a long-term care facility, or a relative’s home, and our volunteer base goes to visit those hospice patients and be a part of their circle of care,” she said.
Another service that will be offered in Waukesha County is Agrace Supportive Care, which will assist individuals who are not yet eligible for hospice but are struggling with the challenges of serious illness. Hospice is for people who have a diagnosis of six months or less. The supportive care program will assist those who need help even sooner than six months.
“It’s really powerful — we get a lot of great testimonials from patients and families that were served by Agrace,” Kopling said. “We get a lot of thankyou notes from the relatives of loved ones after they’ve died.”
Volunteer Director Andy Boryczka said they are seeking as many volunteers as they can before their opening some time in January 2022. Boryczka said he expects there will be a great need for their services in the community.
Right now there are about 750 active volunteers who provide around 80,000 hours of volunteer support in a variety of roles per year.
Boryczka said a wide variety of people volunteer, including college students looking for more medical experience, to family members of patients they’ve served, to everyone in between.
Volunteer schedules are flexible and free training is provided. No previous health care experience is necessary.
Volunteers may be asked to read to the patient, play a game, run an errand, make a snack or simply be there as a caring presence — making life a little bit easier for patients and families, Boryczka said.
Agrace will host an orientation and training on Monday, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., to help new local volunteers prepare for their roles.
Before attending this orientation, prospective volunteers must complete an application and an interview with Agrace’s staff to discuss their skills and interests.
To register call 608-327-7163, or visit Agrace.org/Volunteer to complete the application.
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