Playing games, reading or listening to music with patients

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Have you ever dreamed of the opportunity to make an impact in the lives of others? Maybe you have a special talent that makes others smile? Or free time to share a laugh with someone? A hospice volunteer does just that each day.

Hospice volunteers are compassionate individuals who provide comfort and support to patients facing a life-limiting illness. Volunteers offer specialized skills and support outside of the clinical team.

There is no one-size-fits-all to what makes a hospice volunteer. Some volunteers participate because they want to give back to the community or they might have a special talent that brings joy to others. However, each volunteer makes a significant impact on patients and their families.

Volunteers ensure that the patient and family’s needs are met in a variety of ways. This can be through companionship, assisting with everyday tasks or providing respite time to a patient’s caregivers. Hospice volunteers can also make an impact by assisting the hospice agency with administrative duties.

This can look like:

• Sitting with a patient, socializing and providing a listening ear
• Helping with general office support (filing, shredding, etc.)
• Running errands for patients and families
• Writing a journal or life story with patients as a memento for the family
• Playing games, reading or listening to music with patients
• Walking or caring for family pets
• Assisting with light house cleaning
• Providing bereavement support for family members

Hospice volunteers have the unique opportunity to provide a type of care that is companionship-based. This non-clinical support oftentimes helps patients remain in high spirits. It might even give them or their loved ones a break from thinking about their illness.

It is clear that hospice volunteers can make significant impacts in the lives of patients and loved ones navigating the end-of-life journey. If you feel called to do the same, consider becoming a hospice volunteer.

To volunteer with Enhabit, you must:

• Be least 14 years old
• Have experienced no significant personal loss in the past year
• Complete a criminal background check and tuberculosis test (paid for by Enhabit)
• Provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or qualify for an exemption if unvaccinated
• Complete an eight-hour hybrid orientation

Getting started as a hospice volunteer is as easy as visiting our volunteer page and filling out a brief application. We look forward to working together to provide a better way to care for our patients and their loved ones.

https://www.ehab.com/resource/what-is-a-hospice-volunteer/