Volunteer Opportunities
at
Hospice of Washington County

“Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves”
– Sir James Barrie

Volunteers are a unique and essential component of hospice care. Volunteer service is offered from the patient’s 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.
Many volunteers do not have experience in caring for the terminally ill and must undergo a training program. 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.