No One Dies Alone (NODA), was founded in 2002 by Sandra Clark, CCRN, at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene, OR. The lonely death of one elderly patient led Sandra to conceive of a volunteer companion program for hospital patients who would otherwise die alone.

How to Help

No nursing skill is necessary. Volunteers should be willing to hold the hand of the patient, read to the patient, play music, fluff pillows and assist in the comfort care measures as requested by the patient or by the nurse. Even nurses who volunteer for No One Dies Alone will not provide actual nursing care during their shift but will assist only as a companion.

All volunteers must first take part in an orientation session where they will learn the simple art of being compassionately present at the bedside of a dying person.The following dates and times are the next sessions:

• March 15, 2011, 3 - 5:30 pm
• June 23, 2011, 7:30 - 10 am
• Sept 22, 2011, 3 - 5:30 pm
• Nov 29, 2011, 3 - 5:30 pm

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please contact us at NODA@geisinger.edu

Current Volunteers

If you are a current volunteer and would like to submit time that you are available, please enter it in the schedule. Instructions should have been provided to you previously. If you are in need of assistance please contact NODA at 570-214-9183.