What is a Hospice Volunteer?

Compassionate, skilled volunteers are the heart and soul of AlēvCare Hospice. Hospice volunteers are committed to the hospice philosophy of care and service. They have a respect and reverence for life and consider it a privilege to serve the seriously and terminally ill patients and their families.

AlēvCare is looking for volunteers of all ages, from diverse social and professional backgrounds. A volunteer can be as young as 16, but must be at least 18 to work directly with our patients. AlēvCare volunteers are valued members of our hospice team and may choose when and how they wish to volunteer.

Research has shown that hospice volunteers report an increased level of personal and emotional satisfaction when helping families.

Although it may be difficult to shift your focus from seeking a cure to choosing comfort care as the best alternative, numerous studies have shown that patients enrolled in hospice services actually live longer with better symptom control and pain management than non-hospice patients. The most common statement made by families who chose hospice for their loved one is, “We wish we had known about hospice sooner.”

Volunteer applicants must be:

Healthy
Compassionate
Emotionally mature
Good communicators
Possess a servant’s heart
Be comfortable talking about death and dying
Able to transport themselves to various locations in which we serve our communities

How Do Volunteers Help?

Direct Service Volunteers (non-medical)

In-home volunteers assist patients and families in their home, in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Hours are flexible according to the needs of the patient and family. You do not need to have a medical background to participate. Duties provided by direct service volunteers may include:

• Companionship

• Caregiver relief

• Transportation

• Light housekeeping or yard work

• Running errands

• Sharing your own special talents – music, massage, poetry, reading, etc.

• Bereavement (home visits, phone calls or letter writing)

Indirect volunteers

Administrative Support Volunteers assist clerical and administrative staff in the office on weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Duties may include:

• Data entry

• Filing

• Clerical tasks

• Maintenance of medical records

• The assembly of community information packets

• The assembly of bereavement workbooks

Professional Volunteers

Professional volunteers are direct volunteers, such as massage therapists, manicurists and hairdressers that may volunteer their special skills with proof of license or certification. They provide services to our patients in their area of expertise.

Veteran-to-Veteran Volunteers

According to the We Honor Veterans program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), 1 in 4 dying Americans is a veteran. Veteran-to-Veteran volunteers visit our veteran patients and share in the camaraderie. Veteran volunteers support Hoffmann Hospice in meeting the unique needs of veterans and their families during their time of need.

AlēvCare™ Tail-Wagger Pet Therapy Dogs

AlēvCare™ Hospice is developing an animal-assisted therapy program for volunteers and their dogs to help reduce patient anxiety and provide great comfort. You and your dog can provide companionship, and bring great joy to hospice patients during the final season of their lives. We accept any and all Pet Therapy Certifications. If you are interested in helping us to develop this new program, please contact us.

Volunteer Training and Continuing Education

Upon acceptance into the Volunteer Program, professionally trained staff will provide up to 24 hours educational courses consisting of both group training and independent study with topics including:

• Introduction to hospice philosophy

• Care and comfort measures

• Psychological and spiritual dynamics of dying

• Understanding the bereavement process

AlēvCare™ also provides ongoing educational opportunities for its volunteers. Prospective volunteers are required to submit an application for registration and complete an interview process. AlēvCare™ Hospice Volunteers are encouraged to commit to at least one year of service, unless there are unusual circumstances.

Become an AlēvCare™ Hospice Volunteer

Do you have special skills and a willing spirit? Volunteers play a vital role at AlēvCare Hospice and we encourage you to contact us about joining our team of professionals.