Seasons Hospice Volunteer Opportunity

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Hospice Volunteers are an essential part of the hospice philosophy of care which recognizes that dying is not just a medical event but a personal one as well. These volunteers are important members of an interdisciplinary team working to de-institutionalize the dying experience and provide a more humane system of care for the dying and their families. Volunteers in hospice find it personally gratifying, intellectually stimulating, and emotionally meaningful to assist those in need at a critical point in their lives. Many of these volunteers were introduced to hospice through the death of a family member and understand firsthand the value of hospice care, but nearly 20% of volunteers are new to hospice. Volunteers consistently report that helping the terminally ill through hospice is not about dying but about living.

Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care of San Diego has many opportunities for volunteers. We are seeking people who want to help their friends and neighbors and serve the community. Opportunities can include:

• Support for patients. This can include visiting, reading, taking walks, writing letters, bringing in music, even massage therapy for volunteers with the necessary certifications. The number of ways individuals can share their skills is endless.
• Respite and support for family members. Volunteers can assist with shopping or household maintenance, or allow family caregivers the opportunity to take care of necessary errands and get some time away from the house. Family members also appreciate a visit from a compassionate friend who understands what they are going through. Volunteers have also made invaluable contributions with family pet care.
• Bereavement support programs. Hospice volunteers can work closely with the hospice's professional bereavement staff in duties that range from assisting as a support group facilitator to serving refreshments and helping with mailings to clients and families.
• Music Companion: Do you play and instrument or sing? These are volunteers that provide entertainment to those who enjoy music.

We also welcome and appreciate those who wish to serve our patients and families indirectly, by helping out in our offices in Rancho Bernardo. We can always use help with answering our phones, make our Circle of Care calls, working with documentation, stocking our forms, and various other duties.