Gentiva Volunteer- Vigil Volunteer

Provides a supportive presence for the patient and family in the projected final hours of the patient’s life. Support can be provided to patients who have no family to be with them or to provide support and guidance to families and caregivers, helping to relieve the unknown. Support is provided in a variety of ways. Support may include:

• Providing a calm presence
• Talking and listening to the family/caregivers, or sharing silence
• Reading a comforting poem, prayer, or scripture
• Listening to soothing music
• Sitting quietly by the patient’s bedside

Essentials:

• Hospice Direct Care Volunteer Orientation
• Vigil Volunteer Training
• Role-specific orientation
• In-services (on-hire and annual)

The vigil volunteer must be familiar with the dying process and recognize when death is imminent. Vigil

volunteers receive additional education and training on anticipatory grief, empathetic presence, reflective

listening, and the rights of the dying. The vigil volunteer must be comfortable around death and able to maintain composure in stressful situations. It is important that the vigil volunteer is willing to be called for assignment on short-notice and have some flexibility with scheduling.