Facing the end of life with a loved one is a profound journey. Few families feel complete prepared to navigate these moments, and some patients may face their final days without loved ones nearby.
What is a Comfort Companion?
Our Comfort Companions program exists to make sure patients in Newton, KS, and Central Kansas receive a peaceful, dignified farewell. No patient and no family has to walk through this experience alone.
This group includes people from all walks of life. They share one goal: to help every person feel valued and cared for during their final hours.
Our volunteers offer a gentle beside presence tailored to what each patient needs:
- A quiet presence
- Comfort and anxiety
- Patient advocacy
Meet two local volunteers
We sat down with two of our Comfort Companions, Susie and Donna, to learn what drew them to this sacred work and what “presence” means at the bedside.
Susie’s connection to end-of-life care became deeply personal while supporting her late husband through his battle with Parkinson’s and dementia.
“A phrase that is common for us in this work is becoming a non-anxious presence. That helps us serve as a calm conduit between the family, the dying patient, and the clinical team. I can go to the nurse calmly and say, ‘It’s time; we have a question for you.’ We aren’t in a panic. We’re calm, focused, and present.”
Death was not unfamiliar to Donna, having experienced losses in childhood and served on hospice boards during her career.
“One of the greatest benefits of people who choose this work is being not afraid—not afraid of death, and not afraid of how sad or difficult the situation might be,” Donna says. “That non-anxious presence gives a safe foundation for families who are feeling overwhelmed or unsure.”
Self-care and community
A quiet, grounded presence requires energy and emotional discipline.
When asked how they recharge after an emotional day at the bedside, Susie and Donna shared a smile: “Journaling, praying, processing together at our monthly meetings … and chocolate!” laughs Susie.
“It takes self-discipline to keep the focus completely on the patient and family while you’re in the room,” Donna adds. “Afterward, it’s important to step away, name your feelings, and process the experience so you can keep showing up with a full heart.”
There's a place for you here
Our Chaplain and Volunteer Services Coordinator, Erin Johnson, has watched this volunteer group grow and thrive over the last 18 months.
“I have loved seeing the unique ways our Companions find to offer care,” says Johnson. “Some use musical gifts to bring comfort to patients who love music. Others draw upon a naturally soothing presence during what can be a confusing time. Some read aloud to patients who seem to want conversation, while others sit in quiet silence for hours while loved ones step away to shower and rest.”
Because every patient and family is unique, every volunteer brings something valuable to the bedside. Whether you have a background in healthcare, ministry, music, or simply a heart for offering quiet support, there is a place for you in our Comfort Companions program.
We make sure you feel confident and supported every step of the way. We provide full vetting, shadowing, and ongoing monthly group training where volunteers connect, process experiences, and learn from one another.