Today it is my honor to kick off the tour of Hospice Voices!

Book Description:

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield, Oct. 6, 2013
Category: Memoir, Non-Fiction, Volunteerism, Hospice, Caregiver
Tour Dates: January, 2014
Available in: Print & ebook, 232 pages
As a part-time hospice volunteer, Eric Lindner provides companion care to dying strangers. They are chatterboxes and recluses, religious and irreligious, battered by cancer, congestive heart failure, Alzheimer s, old age. Some cling to life amazingly. Most pass as they expected.
In telling his story, Lindner reveals the thoughts, fears, and lessons of those living the ends of their lives in the care of others, having exhausted their medical options or ceased treatment for their illnesses. In each chapter, Lindner not only reveals the lessons of lives explored in their final days, but zeroes in on how working for hospice can be incredibly fulfilling.
As he s not a doctor, nurse, or professional social worker, just a volunteer lending a hand, offering a respite for other care providers, his charges often reveal more, and in more detail, to him than they do to those with whom they spend the majority of their time. They impart what they feel are life lessons as they reflect on their own lives and the prospect of their last days. Lindner captures it all in his lively storytelling.
Anyone who knows or loves someone working through end of life issues, living in hospice or other end of life facilities, or dealing with terminal or chronic illnesses, will find in these pages the wisdom of those who are working through their own end of life issues, tackling life s big questions, and boiling them down into lessons for anyone as they age or face illness. And those who may feel compelled to volunteer to serve as companions will find motivation, inspiration, and encouragement.
Rather than sink under the weight of depression, pity, or sorrow, Lindner celebrates the lives of those who choose to live even as they die.
My Thoughts:
When I was approached to review Hospice Voices, I jumped at the chance.  Since I have been a social worker for many years and worked in group homes while attending university, working or volunteering in a caring profession was something I could personally relate to. 
Many would read the title and that Eric volunteered in Hospice and conclude that this book would be depressing.  Let me tell you, it is not. Sure, it is sad when the people, Eric spent time with died but they died with dignity.  Something hospice makes possible.  Eric talked about the orientation process he went through.  It was explained that most people who are dying are lonely.  Their friends don’t know how to talk to them so often don’t visit them at all.  The hospice volunteer helps this immensely.
Eric came to really care about the patients and families he has worked with and has kept in touch with many of the families even after the passing of his patients.  He, the families, and the patients, themselves are great examples for the enduring human spirit.  Eric learned important lessons for the people he spent time with and has passed those lesson on in this very touching and beautifully written book.
While reading this I realized the I was a hospice volunteer without realizing it.  When I was young, in 9th and 10th grade, I use to visit a neighbor of ours.  Here’s a little background.  When I was little I use to ride my bike around the block.  I was to little to go somewhere on my own so I just went round and round the block.  An elderly couple, the Johnsons’ use to sit outside and watch me and smile and wave when I passed them.  I always smiled and waved back.  One day I decided to try to talk to them and they were so sweet.
After Mr Johnson passed I kept in touch with Mrs Johnson.  When I was in 9th grade I noticed that Mrs. Johnson wasn’t sitting outside any more and saw a woman I didn’t know going in and out of her house.  I brought my concerns to my mother and she told me that Mrs. Johnson was very sick and wasn’t going to get better.  I started going to her house every single day after school to visit.  It turned out the woman I saw going in and out of the house was Mrs. Johnson’s sister and she moved in to take care of her sister.  They both seemed so happy to see me and I them.  
Eric made me realize that I was helping them through their loneliness.  I am 99 percent sure that I was their only visitor.  When Mrs. Johnson died, I was so sad.  Her sister sold the house and moved back to where she had been living and I never saw her again but I still think of them often.
I want to thank Eric for the gift of friend ship he has given people over the years and his gift to me.  Hospice don’t have enough workers or volunteer workers.  If you are a individual who can look at it as a positive thing, consider becoming a volunteer.  I am willing to bet that you will receive as much as you give.  It is clear that Eric has.  I highly recommend Hospice Voices!
5/5
I received the advanced print copy of this book for my honest review!
I found this short new piece about the role hospice plays in peoples live and Eric is in it!
About Eric Lindner:

Eric Lindner is an attorney & entrepreneur. He has been a hospice companion caregiver since 2009. He divides his time between Warrenton, VA and Kauai, Hawaii.

Thanks to the author, I am giving away one Copy of Hospice Voices.  Open internationally!  If the winner is a resident of the U.S. s/he has the choice of print or ebook. An international winner would receive ebook.  This giveaway ends on February 1, 2013.  Please use Rafflecopter to enter.

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Buy Hospice Voices:
Follow the Tour:
So Many Precious Books Jan 3 Review & Giveaway
WV Stitcher Jan 6 Review                          
WV Stitcher Jan 7 Guest Post
 I’d Rather Be At the Beach Jan 8 Review                                  
Teena in Toronto Jan 10 Review                                          
Anastacia Reviews Jan 13 Review & Giveaway
Library of Clean Reads Jan 14 Review                              
Sincerely Stacie Jan 15 Review                                          
Midnight Musings Jan 16 Review                                      
Midnight Musings Jan 17 Interview
Sweeps for Bloggers Jan 20 Review &Giveaway
Every Free Chance Jan 21 Review                                      
Every Free Chance Jan 22 Interview
Daddy Blogger Jan 23 Review                                
Daddy Blogger  Jan 24 Interview
Deal Sharing Aunt Jan 24 Review & Giveaway
As I Turn the Pages Jan 27 Review                        
As I Turn the Pages  Jan 27 Guest Post
Anglers Rest Jan 28 Review                                    
Joystory Jan 29 Review                                          
Bookalicious Travel Addict Jan 30 Review                        
Bookalicious Travel Addict Jan 31 Interview 

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