Hospice volunteers are essential members of the hospice team. Hospice volunteers provide companionship to people living with a serious illness who are nearing the end of life. They help family caregivers in a variety of ways. Hospices also rely on volunteers to help with office work, fundraising, community outreach and other operational areas. Extensive training and ongoing support are provided.
Hospice volunteering can be categorized into two categories: Direct care and Indirect care.
Direct Patient or Family Care Volunteers:
Direct care volunteers work directly with patients, families, and caregivers. The role of this hospice volunteer is more focused on companionship and spending time with patients rather than providing medical care. They go to where the patient lives – whether in their home, nursing home, or long-term health care facility. Examples of direct care include playing games, talking about memories and promoting life review, preparing food for the patient, reading to them, playing music, helping in the garden, going for walks, helping family members (caregivers) with some of their daily tasks or providing respite so they may care for themselves, informing the hospice team about any needs of the patient or caregivers. Patient care volunteers are empathetic, compassionate and good listeners.
Vigil Volunteers:
This hospice volunteer role provides a supportive presence during the patient’s final hours. Vigil volunteers, however, should have experience in patient care and family support volunteering. They support patients and families by: Holding the patient’s hands while speaking or reading to them, playing an instrument or singing the patient’s favorite songs, comforting presence at the patient’s bedside, reassuring caregivers and family members who cannot be present and staying with the patient during their final hours.
Veteran-to-Veteran Volunteers:
Veterans often value communication with their fellow veterans – a person who also has an experience in the military service culture. Veteran hospice volunteers listen and share stories about military experiences, help obtain missing medals of the patient, record stories for the family’s legacy.
Pet Therapy Volunteers:
Therapy pet owners and their therapy pets will undergo training on interacting with hospice patients and families. Many studies proved that cuddling animals could increase a patient’s comfort level and decrease their physical pain.
Massage Therapist Volunteers:
We are looking for professional licensed massage therapists who can provide their talents and skills to help relax patients and relieve some of their stress and pain. Massage therapists can perform various massages and other therapies for patients.
Bereavement Volunteers:
These hospice volunteers call families or caregivers who lost a loved one to provide support and empathetic listening. They also remind them that Hospice is always there to provide support and other assistance during the grieving period.
Indirect Care Volunteering:
Even if hospice volunteers do not directly care for the patient and families, they can provide their support by helping the organization with administrative, fundraising, and community outreach programs. For example, volunteers who have experience working in the office can work as administrative volunteers. Their previous knowledge and skills can benefit the hospice organization’s daily tasks. Some tasks done by an administrative volunteer include answering emails and phone calls, doing clerical and data entry jobs, preparing brochures and mailings, assisting in fundraising campaigns, helping with outreach programs or events.
