Volunteer Opportunities with Community Hospices

The hospice volunteer is a valued and integral member of the Interdisciplinary Team which cares for each hospice patient.  Because of the importance and sensitivity of this role, special training has been mandated by Medicare.  (See below)

After training, hospice volunteers may provide assistance in the ways listed below.

Inpatient Unit Volunteer (Washington location only)
Provide non-medical support services to patients and their families to include: 
     companionship and emotional support, 
     assist with feeding patients, fill water pitchers, 
     assist ambulatory patients in walking  
     assist with answering phones and greeting visitors

Home Care and Long-term Care Volunteer
Provide non-medical support through companionship and friendly visits to patients and caregivers in their homes or in long-term care facilities. May consist of 
      reading to patients, 
      preparing light meals, 
      helping families with limited shopping and errands and 
      listening to a patient share thoughts.

11TH Hour Volunteer
Provide support and a caring presence to hospice patients dying alone by helping supplement the professional hospice team. Must complete the hospice training program and be an active volunteer for at least six months before serving as an 11th Hour Volunteer. Requires additional training.

Hospice Volunteer Training
The hospice volunteer is a valued member of the Interdisciplinary Team which cares for each hospice patient. Medicare regulations require that hospice volunteers complete a training program which  typically involves four or five session totalling between 16 and 20 hours.  The training is scheduled several times during the year.  Topics covered during training include:
             History and Mission of Community Hospices
          What is Hospice and Palliative Care
          The Dying Patient's Bill of Rights
          The Medical Perspective of Hospice
          Social Work and the End of Life Care
          Spirituality in Health Care
          Grief Loss and Bereavement
          Infection Control and Universal Precautions
          Death and Anxiety
          The Role of the Hospice Volunteer
          Communicating with Compassion
          Cultural Competency at the End of Life

Administrative Volunteers  Volunteers are also needed to assist with office work.  Assisting in the office does not require the special training required of volunteers who wish to assist with hospice patients.  Tasks may include:
              Help with mailings
              File, photocopy, collate
              Answer phones 

Please contact the volunteer coordinator at the office nearest you for more information and to sign up for the next training class.  

 Click here to Download a volunteer application in PDF format (requires Adobe Acrobat).