What is a Hospice Volunteer?

To know, first you need to understand the history behind the Hospice philosophy.

Hospice was first started in 1963 as a specialized care for the terminally ill. Over the years hospice care has evolved but the philosophy hasn’t changed; providing comfort care to those who are near the end of life, focusing on quality of life and pain management. By 1982 there were regulations put in place by congress that included mandatory volunteer hours. This is one aspect of hospice that makes it so unique and special in the medical field. By law 5% of all client hours must be completed by hospice volunteers.

Support for Patients

Currently there are 420,000 trained hospice volunteers in the world! Together they provide over 19 million service hours to those on hospice. What does volunteering look like and how are all these hours filled? It can be as simple as sitting to chat, writing letters, sharing stories, taking a walk, or sharing your favorite music. Some volunteers who have more skilled training can also provide specialized services such as supervising pet therapy, massage therapy and organize grief groups.

Respite and Support to Families

Respite is vital in the longevity of caring for a loved one, here is where volunteers shine. If you have ever thought to yourself ‘I want to do something meaningful and fulfilling’ hospice volunteering could be for you. Aside from companionship and emotional support volunteers bring they can also assist with running small errands, light housekeeping, handyman skills, and giving the patients family time out of the home to run errands or rest.

Bereavement Care and Support Groups

Volunteers who have a background in mental health or with specialized skills work adjacent to the hospice social worker and Chaplain to provide grief counseling as well as support groups. An annual event is held to honor past patients, volunteers participate in planning as well as running this memorial. Duties of a bereavement volunteer could range from running a support group, serving refreshments at the memorial or simply being an empathetic ear.

Flexibility and Training

As a volunteer you are in charge of how many hours you would like to give to an agency and what those look like. Have a skill in sewing? Make quilts for patients, as they come onto hospice they could be welcomed with a soft quilt. How about baking? A personalized cupcake on a birthday could make a large impact to someone on hospice.

To provide the best care to patients all volunteers do complete an extensive orientation which cover the history of hospice, the hospice philosophy, HIPPA, and much more. Training sessions and a routine background check are also requirements to get started as a volunteer. This ensures safety for the client and that the volunteer is prepared for the bittersweet challenge of working with those on hospice.

What’s Your Why?

Many volunteers start their journey with a personal connection to hospice that drives their passion to giving back to the terminally ill. Karen a hospice volunteer in the Treasure Valley was asked about her ‘why’ this is what she had to say…

‘My ‘why’ for volunteering is a very simple one. I want to give back, to ‘pay it forward’. In 1999, my husband Kenny died suddenly from a heart attack. At this time, I was working in a senior community and the residents did everything they could to comfort me. I felt so seen, heard and supported. I knew I would want to give back to others like what was given to me.

Spending 3 or 4 hours a week helping someone who really needs a hand is so satisfying. Every visit is a little different--sometimes it’s running errands or help cleaning and sometimes we sit and hold hands without speaking a word. Sometimes we have deep conversations and other times just watch a favorite Western. For me, it’s not about the doing, it’s about being present to listen. It helps me to remember how sweet and precious life is. When it’s time to leave, I feel certain that I received more than I have given.

This quote by Maya Angelou sums it up for me:

Editor’s Note: This article was submitted by Alexis Schimbeck, LMSW, Hospice Social Worker, Doctors Hospice of Idaho. Reach her at 435-767-8477. See ad below.

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