Our Volunteers are an essental part of the Hospice Team and assist in a broad spectrum of services for patients and their families including direct patient care such as reading, listening, or socializing with patients and their families. Indirect services included clerical or administrative support, gardening or making flower arrangements or supporting an special event. Volunteers are the very backbone of the Hospice program. Here are some ways in which you can serve:

Listen to concerns:You may help patients and their family members find their own answers to the emotional or spiritual questions which circle them during this time. By just istening and being a friend.

Keep the patient company: Your presence can be extremely comforting to the patient, even if the volunteer only sits quietly in the room. Often reading to patients or suggesting activities you could do together fills the lonely spaces of the day, by just being their friend.. Family members may use this time for a much needed respite.

Provided a link to the hospice staff: Your reports on the needs of the patient and family are very important to the Hospice team. It helps keep the team updated from a different pair of eyes.

Be a support person: You may often be the person patients and family members turn to for comfort, help and information. You may be their link and base of support during this confusing time. Being there as a friend. .

Provide physical help: You may be able to run errands, handle light chores around the house or yard work if you choose. If licensed and permitted, you may help with hair washing, styling and cutting, shaving or massages.

Helping out behind the scenes: Our clerlical and support volunteer staff are always in need of more help. Anyway you can help is always appreicated; typing, filing and other clerical duties fundraising, helping with special events answering phones serving on advisory committees support services

It's those little (and not so little) things volunteers do that make hospice care a wonderful and postive experience.

Call your local branch for more ways to help in your area.