Harpers and harpists needed to provide comfort and connection for hospice patients and their families. This special form of patient-centered bedside support reaches patients even when communications severely impaired. We welcome harpists(lever or pedal) who own their own harp and have a repertoire of music that would be conducive to working with hospice patients. We also offer training sessions to learn and practice modal therapeutic harp technique. Modal harping provides beautiful soothing music using a simple technique that even non-musicians can master. Reading music or being proficient on the harp is not required. The time commitment involves visiting/playing for the patient weekly. The visitation time is flexible. Location: Ada, Big Rapids, Grand Rapids, Grandville, Holland, Middleville, Newaygo and the surrounding areas. Note: Volunteers are asked to wait one year after the death of a family member or friend before volunteering.

We offer a flexible Volunteer Orientation program!

This training program format will allow candidates to complete some of the required training thru an on-line program at your convenience and provide additional times and locations for the in-person training component. The goal is to shorten the on-boarding process and add more flexibility in the training process making it easier for interested individuals to join our volunteer program.

Effective 3/12/20 Spectrum Health instituted no in-person meetings policy to assist in avoiding the spread of this virus; therefore, we are suspending In-person Orientations.

At this time we also continue to have a suspension on In-person Volunteer support for our patients and families. Since March, 2020 our volunteers have been providing only Remote Volunteer support thru phone calls, written communication and virtual visits. We do not have a time expectation identified for when In-person Volunteer support will resume.

As we review the reality of when resuming In-person Volunteer Orientations will be allowed; we anticipate that it will be many months. We are hopeful that we may be able to resume scheduling Orientation sessions by Early Summer.

Interested candidates are in the process of completing applications and the online training in order to be eligible to register for the upcoming Orientations when they are scheduled.

We will work with you to help you join our volunteer program and start supporting patients thru out our 11 county service area! Contact us to receive more information and application instructions. Call Yvonne at (616)391-4240 or toll free at 1-866-542-7945. Email us at: hospice.volunteers@spectrumhealth.org .