Bridge Home Health & Hospice, a non-profit organization providing home health care and hospice services, will offer training for prospective volunteers for two consecutive Saturdays - Saturday, Oct. 29, and Saturday, Nov. 5,  from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Bluffton Hospital, 139 Garau St.
 
Courses will cover the basic principles of hospice, understanding the needs of patients and their families, effective communication, patient care, pain and symptom management, spiritual care giving and understanding grief and loss.
 
No previous hospice experience is necessary; however, volunteers must be at least 18 years old.
 
Following training, volunteers can choose their area of involvement, such as caregiver relief, bereavement, hospice care center, nursing home visitors, gift of dreams or clerical work.
 
Pre-registration is required. For more information or to request an application packet, contact Julie Tiell, Bridge Hospice volunteer services coordinator, at 419.423.5351 or [email protected].