Patient and Family Care Volunteer

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Responsibilities

To provide support, encouragement and assistance to hospice patients and their families, including (but not limited to) the following activities.

1. Provide respite care for family caregivers, staying with a patient while caregiver(s) tend to other things or leave the home for appointments and errands.

2. Provide companionship to patients, as desired, including listening, conversation, reading aloud, assisting with tasks such as letter writing; playing cards or other games when appropriate.

3. Offering patient fluids and providing occasional services such as preparing snacks or light meal; helping patient to eat if appropriate.

4. Running simple errands, providing assistance with children or pets, minor housekeeping tasks such as laundry or dishes if appropriate.

5. Providing minimal assistance with body mechanics to enhance patient’s comfort and ensure safety, such as repositioning in bed or chair, assisting from bed to chair, walking to bathroom or using commode, if patient needs only minimal assistance.

6. If approved by Volunteer Coordinator, provide transportation for family member or patient.

7. Maintain and submit to Volunteer Coordinator records of contacts with patient or family members at weekly intervals.

8. Notify Volunteer Coordinator or other Hospice staff immediately of any emergencies or significant changes in patient, or any serious concerns.

9. Whenever possible and appropriate, follow-up with patient’s family caregiver after patient’s death through short visits and/or phone calls.

10. Inform Volunteer Coordinator of changes in availability due to health, travel etc.

11. Attend annual Health Assessment, or make other arrangements to satisfy requirement.

12. Attend in-services and other educational events when possible.