Signature Hospice

Our Signature holistic approach to care during hospice includes a team dedicated to quality of life. Primary Care Physician – a person on hospice maintains one-on-one care with their primary care physician.

• Medical Director – Oversees the entire plan of care.
• Registered Nurse (RN) – performs the initial evaluation and writes the plan of care. In addition, coordinates the care plan and delegates any instructions to the team.
• Home Health Aide – receives instruction from the RN and is instructed on care that requires delegation. Provides personal care services and companionship.
• Medical Social Worker – assists with family dynamics, educates on advance directives, wills, and more.
• Spiritual Counselor – provides peace and comfort to the person on hospice as well as to the family and assists in resolutions.
• Volunteers – Volunteers work in a variety of capacities, including:

Direct Patient Care/ Family Support Volunteers provide personal care or emotional support and practical assistance, which enhance the comfort and quality of life for patients and families/caregivers. They’re a caring, friendly face for chatting, reading, playing games, watching TV, listening to music, and sharing stories. Volunteer visits also offer respite to the family caregiver, who can take a break from caregiving — and even leave the house to run errands or relax. 

Vigil Volunteers provide a supportive presence during a patient’s final hours. They offer a beautiful final gift of peace and solace to those they serve. Vigil Volunteers may hold the person’s hand, speak, or read to them, play the person’s favorite music, or simply be a comforting presence at the bedside. Vigil visits also help reassure family members, who may not be able to stay with the patient.  

Office volunteers lend their services working in our administrative office. Some administrative tasks are organizing, filing, collating, data entry, phone calls and more... Their behind-the-scenes contributions help our vital services to operate efficiently.  

Bereavement Volunteers make phone calls to those who’ve recently experienced a loss. They make calls at 2 months and 10 months with the bereaved and remind them that Signature Hospice is still there for them if they need grief support or other assistance. 

Vet-to-Vet Volunteers provide support from military veterans to Signature Hospice veteran patients. Veterans often appreciate contact with another vet – someone who personally experienced the culture of military service – even if they served during a different time or place. Vet-to-Vet Volunteers may share stories and experiences; assist with pinning, medal, and blanket presentations; record stories to preserve in the Library of Congress or for the family’s legacy and help obtain missing medals. 

Pet Therapy Volunteers provide direct support to our patients through visits with their already-certified therapy dogs.  

Music Performers share the gift of music with patients and their friends living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. These hospice volunteers must be comfortable performing for groups and provide their own instruments (if applicable). 

What are the steps to become a volunteer with Signature Hospice? First, contact us about your interest in becoming a hospice volunteer. We will explain the process, orientation, and training. If you’ve recently experienced a loss, we ask that you wait a year before volunteering in direct patient care. You do not have to be a healthcare professional to be a hospice volunteer with Signature. We welcome you to use the talents you already have, or if you’d like, broaden your horizons and learn new skills. Applicants must pass Criminal Background check. 

Signature Hospice strives for comfort and compassion for families and patients during life’s most difficult time and journey. For any journey, preparation and planning are essential. With a devoted support team of professional care providers, our services focus on comfort, companionship, relief, peace, and resolution. The goal of hospice is to allow the patient to rest comfortably. By working to normalize events, routines, schedules, and more, our compassionate care providers help you and your family focus on the important moments.