Frequently Asked Questions
1. What do In-House Hospice & Palliative Care volunteers do?
As members of the hospice interdisciplinary team, volunteers visit with patients at their homes, nursing facilities, or occasionally, hospitals. They provide friendly visits, companionship, and emotional support, as well as respite for caregivers and occasional assistance with light household tasks or errands, such as grocery shopping. Some volunteers also "sit vigil" with and provide support to patients who are actively dying, or provide bereavement support to a family member following the death of a loved one.
Office support volunteers contribute their office and computer skills to help ensure the smooth day-to-day functioning of the agency.
2. Who can be a volunteer?
Volunteers of all ages and cultural and educational backgrounds come to us. We welcome everyone from individuals to groups. Those who would like to be a companion or pet therapy volunteer can be as young as 14 years old with a parent's permission.
3. What qualities do you look for in a hospice and palliative care volunteer?
Volunteers requires a caring and compassionate heart and a willingness to learn.
4. What type of training do you provide for new volunteers?
Training varies depending on the volunteer position. We provide the best possible training to interact with patients and families.
5. What is covered in the training?
During training, the volunteer will receive instruction in the philosophy and roles of the hospice team members. Team members include the patient's physician, hospice physician, nurse, social worker, spiritual care counselor, home health aide, and grief support counselor, along with the trained volunteers. We cover communication techniques, bereavement, preventing “burn-out," and even spiritually. The role of the volunteer will be discussed and explained so individuals can make their own decisions about what kind of volunteer work they would like to provide.
6. Are there other requirements I should know about?
-Volunteers must be at least 14 years old
-Volunteers must pass a background check
-Volunteers must have an up-to-date tuberculosis test or negative chest x-ray
7. Why are volunteers so important?
Volunteers are an integral part of the hospice team. Volunteers provide patients, caregivers, and family members with physical and emotional support during this important and stressful time. Caregiving for a terminally ill loved one can be exhausting. Volunteers assist the caregiver by providing opportunities to get away for a needed break.
8. Other than direct client care how else may I be of service as a hospice volunteer?
In-House Hospice & Palliative Care has a need for volunteers to work in our office, assist with our marketing and mailing efforts, assist with grief support groups, or offer special skills that may benefit our organization and clients, such as computer skills, sewing, home improvements, or hair styling.
9. How much volunteer time will I be obligated to give after training?
Generally, volunteers dedicate two to four hours a week to visit patients or provide other support whether it's offering a listening ear, companioning, assisting with daily household activities for patients, or sharing their personal expertise or interests.Volunteer services are flexible enough to work around most schedules. You decide on the hours you are willing and able to give.
10. Do I ever have to take care of a client's physical needs?
Our volunteers tell us what they are willing to do or not do when it comes to client care. We want our volunteers to be comfortable and confident when it comes to the interaction and care of our clients. Each volunteer will decide with the assistance of the In-House volunteer coordinator which tasks will work best for them.
11. What type of environment will I be working in?
Hospice attends to clients in a private home setting, nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living facilities, and group homes. We attend to our clients wherever they live. If you are providing support other than patient care, you will work out of the office you choose as your home base.
