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VA Healthcare Network Upstate New York - VISN 2
 Introduction
One hundred years ago people died quickly usually resulting from an injury or infection. Family and friends surrounded the bedside.
There was community participation and support. Today the dying process is extended. Most Americans will die from a chronic disease in a hospital setting instead of their own beds. Sometimes it is a lonely experience. Some patients outlive their families and friends or, for other reasons, find themselves alone at the end of life.
In an effort to reverse the loneliness that can occur, a search for a program that was already developed and proved successful began. “No One Dies Alone” (NODA) seemed to fit our need. Sandra Clarke, CCRN at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene, Oregon, developed the program. She enthusiastically supported our desire to promote NODA within the VA system. A program is now evolving to meet the needs of those veterans who, for whatever reason, find themselves alone in the final stage of life.
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A staff nurse can initiate NODA during weekday hours by calling pastoral care or the nursing supervisor after hours and on weekends. The volunteer who has signed up for that date will be called to sit with the patient. The “compassionate companion” is provided with a personal meal ticket, a CD player, various CDs, religious texts and artifacts to bring to the bedside. Compassionate companions can assist those who are dying in hospitals by sitting quietly at the bedside, listening to patients’ stories, playing music, and fulfilling last wishes. We emphasize that any religious behavior must be initiated by the dying person and not the companion.
Any employee or volunteer of the VA is eligible to donate their time to this profound experience. In turn we will devote our full support to you as you take this journey with us. You will be given an orientation to the program in order to provide support to the patient.
Please contact program staff for more information on becoming a “compassionate companion” volunteer.
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| Reviewed/Updated Date: june 27, 2006 |
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