Volunteer
If you're interested in becoming a volunteer please contact us to learn more.
What is Hospice Volunteering?
• A hospice volunteer is someone who gives freely of their time to help patients and families through the final stage of life.
• These special people are trained by the agency.
• Volunteering involves everything from running errands to sitting up with the patient and family through the night.
• The volunteer’s time is often spent in the patient’s home, talking, listening, and developing close relationships with the patient and family.
• The volunteer is a member of the patient’s care team who assists in providing care and helps to preserve ties to the community.
• Volunteers also maintain contact with the family after the patient has died so that the family does not feel abandoned.
• A hospice volunteer is someone who gives freely of their time to help patients and families through the final stage of life.
• These special people are trained by the agency.
• Volunteering involves everything from running errands to sitting up with the patient and family through the night.
• The volunteer’s time is often spent in the patient’s home, talking, listening, and developing close relationships with the patient and family.
• The volunteer is a member of the patient’s care team who assists in providing care and helps to preserve ties to the community.
• Volunteers also maintain contact with the family after the patient has died so that the family does not feel abandoned.
The Role of the Volunteer
• The volunteer’s presence helps to remind the patient and family of the world outside of the hospital or the home.
• They are there to provide friendship and emotional or spiritual support.
• The hospice volunteers are people, someone who can serve as a link to further human companionship, an extension of the patient’s family and friends.
• The volunteers help the patient have some feelings of normalcy when at most times this is difficult.
• The volunteer brings new skill, personality, and compassion with more flexible time to interact with the patient and family.
• The volunteer’s presence helps to remind the patient and family of the world outside of the hospital or the home.
• They are there to provide friendship and emotional or spiritual support.
• The hospice volunteers are people, someone who can serve as a link to further human companionship, an extension of the patient’s family and friends.
• The volunteers help the patient have some feelings of normalcy when at most times this is difficult.
• The volunteer brings new skill, personality, and compassion with more flexible time to interact with the patient and family.
Objectives of the Volunteer Program
• To help the patient and family through the final stage of life — dying.
• To talk and listen.
• To work with the staff as a member of the patient care team.
• To serve as a tie between the patient and the community, so that their isolation is limited.
• To continue contact with the family long after the patient has passed on; building lasting relationships.
• To help the patient and family through the final stage of life — dying.
• To talk and listen.
• To work with the staff as a member of the patient care team.
• To serve as a tie between the patient and the community, so that their isolation is limited.
• To continue contact with the family long after the patient has passed on; building lasting relationships.
What Does a Hospice Patient Expect from a Volunteer?
• Someone who cares
• Someone to share feelings with
• Someone secure enough to share and give parts of himself
or herself with another human being
• Someone to laugh or cry with
• Someone who cares
• Someone to share feelings with
• Someone secure enough to share and give parts of himself
or herself with another human being
• Someone to laugh or cry with
A Volunteer’s Bill of Rights
Volunteers deserve:
1. The right to be treated as a co-worker, not just as free help.
2. The right to suitable assignment, with consideration for personal preference, temperaments, life experience, vocational background, and one which offers the opportunity for growth and development.
3. The right to know as much about the organization as possible.
4. The right to training for the job.
5. The right to continuing education on the job.
6. The right to sound guidance and direction by someone who is experienced, patient, well-informed, and thoughtful.
7. The right to a place to work.
8. The right to promotion and a variety of experiences.
9. The right to be heard and listened to; and
10. The right to recognition in the form of promotion and awards through day by day expressions of appreciation, and by being treated as a significant member of the team.
Volunteers deserve:
1. The right to be treated as a co-worker, not just as free help.
2. The right to suitable assignment, with consideration for personal preference, temperaments, life experience, vocational background, and one which offers the opportunity for growth and development.
3. The right to know as much about the organization as possible.
4. The right to training for the job.
5. The right to continuing education on the job.
6. The right to sound guidance and direction by someone who is experienced, patient, well-informed, and thoughtful.
7. The right to a place to work.
8. The right to promotion and a variety of experiences.
9. The right to be heard and listened to; and
10. The right to recognition in the form of promotion and awards through day by day expressions of appreciation, and by being treated as a significant member of the team.
