Association pour le développement des soins palliatifs - A.S.P. - AUDE

ASP-Aude is an association whose mission is to support people with serious illnesses by deploying trained volunteer listeners to assist patients and families in western Aude. It also aims to raise awareness among the general public about palliative care and patients' rights. During this singular period that serious illness and end-of-life represent for everyone, our association proposes, in a strictly secular approach, to voluntarily accompany these individuals—that is, to walk alongside them at their own pace, in the direction they have chosen. Our volunteers are neither healthcare professionals nor psychologists, and they provide no medical care. They are neither visitors, friends, nor relatives—someone the patient would want to spare. They are simply witnesses, supportive third parties. These companions receive initial training before any intervention with patients; they work within a coordinated team led by a volunteer coordinator, who ensures liaison with the care team, whether at home or in an institution. Finally, they are called upon to cultivate non-judgment, confidentiality, and the capacity to listen. They benefit from workshops, continuing education sessions, and…