Experts

Carol Shull

Volunteer Coordinator

In the late 1990s, Carol started with AseraCare as a volunteer. “I retired from the American Cancer Society and became a companion volunteer for AseraCare Hospice for two years,” she says. “The coordinator was moving to Virginia and suggested I apply for the position.”

Carol felt she would be a good fit for the position. “I’ve always been drawn to matters of death and dying and the need to help those going through it in some way.”

As a volunteer coordinator, Carol recruits, trains and places volunteers with patients. She also keeps up with files like volunteers’ car insurance and certifications. Carol is responsible for expanding the volunteer programs to include a wide range of services such as music, pet therapy, Reiki, clowns, vigil and companioning.

While there are many rewarding moments in the life of a hospice volunteer coordinator, one patient encounter stands out for Carol. “When we started the music outreach, I would go along with the volunteers in the beginning to sing to the patients. I experienced the most beautiful death of one of our patients,” she says. We were singing some of the old hymns to her and her breathing became very calm and shallow. And as we sang ‘Amazing Grace,’ she took her last breath. Her family said that was her favorite hymn.”

For Carol, the key to excellent service is personalized care for each family, not a cookie-cutter approach. “I love AseraCare Hospice because they are holistic in their thinking and allow the volunteer program to provide the newest ideas and therapies for a better quality of life at the end of life.”