Aveanna Hospice welcomes Celia Kelley as Volunteer Coordinator
Published on Sunday, August 18, 2024, 9:15 a.m.
- Pictured from left are Aveanna Hospice Account Executive Amanda Jernigan, volunteer Carla Mooney, Aveanna Hospice Administrative Assistant Judy Ramsey, volunteer Mary Brazzell, volunteer Carolyn DeForest, volunteer Roger Campbell and Aveanna Hospice Volunteer Coordinator Celia Kelley. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)
Aveanna Hospice of Andalusia is pleased to announce Celia Kelley, an experienced social worker with 29 years of experience, as its new Volunteer Coordinator.
Celia Kelley became the new volunteer coordinator at Aveanna Hospice in July. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)
Kelley worked as a medical social worker for nine years before spending the last 11 years in human resources. She has worked with both children and the elderly in family services and hospice.
“I came into hospice in my early 30s and had no idea the impact it would have on my life. Everyone experiences the death of a loved one at some point in their lives. We often don’t know how to prepare for death, how to feel about it, and certainly don’t understand it,” Kelley said. “Hospice gave me the medical, spiritual, and emotional knowledge through education and experiences to not only understand these experiences, but to help others through them. Hopefully, I can alleviate some of the questions and needs that come with illness and death for the patient and their loved ones. It made me realize what an honor it was to be part of this experience with families before and after the patient’s death.”
Kelley learned about the volunteer coordinator position in June and submitted an application. She was invited to an interview shortly afterward before Aveanna Hospice Executive Director Kim Ray called and offered her the position.
Her first day of work was Monday, July 8th.
“After I left hospice, my heart remained with hospice over the years. I had prayed that God would take me where He wanted me to go. I am grateful to Aveanna and Kim for giving me the opportunity to join their team, a team that has as much of a heart for hospice as I do,” she said.
One of Kelley’s goals is to involve more people in the community who want to give back and volunteer their time and services. She added that she plans to visit the local community and recruit volunteers for Aveanna.
“Volunteers are an invaluable part of the hospice team. Medicare requires that 5 percent of the time staff spends on patient care be covered by volunteers. Volunteers can provide administrative or patient-related services, such as visiting a patient to keep them company, running errands for a caregiver, or helping with clerical tasks in the hospice office. There are many ways to contribute your time and skills or simply be a compassionate ear for the families and patients,” Kelley said.
Aveanna Hospice recruits adult volunteers ages 18 and older, and youth volunteers ages 14 to 17. Current volunteers include Ginger Burdett, Roger Campbell, Lola Shakespeare, Janet Brantley, Mary Brazzell, Carolyn DeForest, Summer Brown, Judy Phillips, Carla Mooney, Braden Crates, Bryce Jernigan, Kinsley Stovall, and Marli Rolling.
Kelley is a graduate of Goshen High School and holds a degree in psychology from Troy University. She is married to Tony Kelley and has four children and two grandchildren. When she is not working for Aveanna, she works with her husband at their store, 29 and Main Market, in Dozier.
Anyone interested in learning more about the volunteer program can call 334-427-4000. Aveanna Hospice is located at 820 South Three Notch Street, Suite C in Andalusia. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, and a nurse is on call 24 hours a day.
