Heartland Hospice wants to ensure no one dies alone. A hospice vigil volunteer is one of Heartland's most special and fulfilling opportunities. Vigil volunteers sit bedside with a patient who is in their last hours of life. Support may involve prayer (reading from the Bible or other material that is comforting for patient), providing respite to family (allowing them to step away and eat a meal/take a break) or simply being present...providing comfort and peace of mind to all that the patient is not alone.

Our vigil volunteer program is more of an "on-call" opportunity; vigil support is based upon request of patient's family or caregiving team. Scheduling of vigil takes into consideration the volunteer's location and availability. Applicants must attend an orientation to learn about the philosophy of hospice, the role of a vigil volunteer, and skills related to caring for and communicating with hospice patients and their families. Emphasis is on providing comfort during the dying process.

Requirements for vigil volunteers: must be at least 18-years-old, agree to background and reference checks, must be appropriately coping with any personal losses, impeccable communication skills, sound judgment regarding issues of death and dying, and ability to work independently with indirect supervision.

Vigil volunteers must have: a positive outlook on life, flexibility, empathy, sensitivity to issues around death and dying, compassion, a willingness to help others and the ability to work as a member of the hospice team. Reliable transportation is a must!

If you live in Waukesha, or a surrounding community, and would like to provide support to hospice patients during their greatest hour of need, please contact us. We're waiting to hear from you!