
Volunteers are a unique and essential component of hospice care.
Volunteer service is offered from the patients first admission to the
Hospice program through the resolution of bereavement. Volunteer services are
individualized for each patient and family. The wishes and needs of the patient
and family will determine what volunteer services are provided.

Volunteers listen to concerns of the patient, keep the patient
company, provide a link to the hospice staff, and provide physical care. They
are a support person.

Examples of the kinds of services that volunteers offer
include
:


Emotional support for
patient and family
: friendly visits and telephone calls,
listening, companionship


Spiritual support for
patient and family


Child care


Occasional household
chores
: cleaning, laundry, meal planning and preparation, dish
washing,

gardening and
yard work, caring for pets


Errands
:
groceries, other shopping


Recreation
:
arts, crafts, games, read to patient, write letters


Respite Care


Assistance with final
arrangements
: funeral plans


Bereavement
support
: attending visitation, funerals, phone calls, notes,
visits
Volunteers

also support the hospice organization by: doing office
and clerical work (filing, copying, telephoning, equipment cleaning, mailing,
and newsletter development), fund raising, serving on committees or boards, and
coordinating support services.
All of

Hospice of Washington Counties volunteers must undergo a training program on caring for the terminally ill and their loved ones. Hospice of Washington County offers volunteer training classes intermittently throughout the year. The class is once a week for seven weeks and covers numerous topics pertaining to hospice care.