No One Dies Alone is Expanding to UPMC Shadyside
For the past five years, the No One Dies Alone (NODA) program at UPMC Presbyterian-Montefiore has provided hundreds of hours of human presence for those who would have otherwise died without the comfort of another person to accompany them during their final hours. As of June, 2017, this program will also be available at UPMC Shadyside.
Volunteers from local congregations and churches, including Beth Shalom, Dor Hadash, Temple Sinai, Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha, and Rodef Shalom, have contributed many hours of chesed shel emet in making this program a success. Some volunteers who would like to be NODA Compassionate Companion Volunteers may find the Shadyside location more suitable than traveling to Oakland.
NODA at UPMC Shadyside & Presby is a collaborative interfaith program of the Office of Spiritual Care, The Palliative and Supportive Institute (PSI), and the Volunteer Department. The program seeks to ensure that dying patients, who may otherwise be alone, have the gift of human presence in their final hours. This presence is provided by specially trained volunteers called “Compassionate Companions.”
Requirements include:
A desire to comfort dying patients who otherwise may be alone.
Complete the three hour NODA training program at UPMC.
Successfully complete a background check.
Agree to adhere to all UPMC policies and procedures.
Demonstrate a commitment to respect the rights, needs, and dignity of all patients.
Agree to volunteer for shifts that will last three to four hours.
Must be at least 18 years old, have access to email or phone.
Should not have experienced the loss of someone close to you within the past six months.
A willingness to be emotionally present for the patient by being silently attentive or by reading, providing music, or other appropriate modalities of comfort.
To get more information:
Contact the UPMC Office of Spiritual Care at 412-647-7560 or
Contact the Volunteer and Community Services office at 412-623-1404 or 412-648-6105
Free parking is provided to our volunteers.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THE NODA PROGRAM AT UPMC SHADYSIDE!
