What Volunteers Do

Whether in a patient's home or at the hospice office, volunteers offer many kinds of compassionate, practical help.

Trained volunteers offer family members and friends breaks from caregiving by providing a few hours per week of respite care for patients. Volunteers also record life stories, play music, assist in the office, support family members after the death, and help in other ways.

A volunteer may help by:

• providing patient companionship by listening, reading, or just holding a hand
• giving caregivers much-needed breaks
• helping with cooking, errands, and light chores
• helping with vigil or bereavement support
• playing music or singing
• providing pet companioning
• making homemade comfort items 
• assisting In-House Hospice & Palliative Care office staff with routine tasks, as well as special projects
• working on a craft or sharing a talent or special interests such as music, scrapbooking, card games, hair and make-up, sports, and more

Volunteers fill a variety of roles and needs

Companion: As a valued part of the hospice team, volunteers visit with patients at their nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or their houses. They provide companionship and emotional support for the patients and caregivers.

Pet therapy: Pet therapy can make a tremendous difference in our hospice program by providing comfort, love, and companionship through the use of our dogs. Our goal is to enrich the quality of life for the hospice patients and often their families as well. The sight of our dogs and the touch of their fur often brings peace and joy to those patients whose lives once included animals.

Office: These volunteers provide welcomed support to our office staff. Office volunteers help with filing, computer work, shredding papers, organizing, and projects as they arise.

Special projects: These are the unsung heroes of our volunteer program. They are the men and woman who make one-of-a-kind items for our patients that include, but are not limited to:

• lap blankets
• neck pillows
• shawls
• slippers
• dolls
• hats

Vigil support: These volunteers provide a special support. They receive a phone call at the "11^th hour." Vigil volunteers go out when a patient is actively dying to offer support and presence to the family, the patient, and staff.

Respite: These individuals stay a few hours when a patient needs some extra company, or the caregiver needs a break.

Print out or forward the In-House volunteer brochure  to share with others.