Caregiver Respite - Why it's important

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Hospice family caregivers are essential to the care of a loved one who is receiving hospice care. The family helps with bathing, dressing, grooming, medication management, medical care, shopping, cooking, laundry, assists with financial matters, and provides emotional support for the patient.

Enhabit Hospice is looking for a volunteer to reach out on a regular basis to the caregiver to offer emotional support and sit with the patient for a few hours so the caregiver can have a break. Caregivers miss out on social events, work and thier normal routine.

What does a hospice volunteer do?

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.

This can look like:

• Sitting with a patient, socializing and providing a listening ear
• 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

How do I become a hospice volunteer?

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.

Enhabit serves a 60-mile radius of the Wichita office and has caregivers on our waiting list. We have a volunteer coordinator who can help you get started and provide support to you every step of the way. Please reach out today if you would like to help.