Patient Care Hospice Volunteer- Veterans

Hospice Volunteers are an essential part of the team, offering time, compassion, and support to patients, families, and the organization. These roles are unpaid positions that provide meaningful opportunities to make a difference through companionship, bereavement support, administrative assistance, and end-of-life presence. Volunteers work under the direction of the Volunteer Coordinator and other designated staff.

The Veteran-to-Veteran Volunteer Program aims to pair recruited Veteran Volunteers with hospice patients who have been identified as Veterans and are interested in receiving visits from a Veteran volunteer. Veteran Volunteers have the unique ability to relate to and connect with Veteran patients, thereby creating an environment where life review and healing may occur.

Veteran volunteers can provide support to Veteran hospice patients and contribute to your organization’s WHV program in a variety of ways, including:

• Visit Veteran patients – Veteran volunteers can provide Veteran patients with companionship and facilitate life review. While in-person visits are recommended, organizations may accommodate interested Veteran volunteers who prefer to connect with patients and families via telephone or video call.
• Participate in ceremonies of recognition – Veteran volunteers play a pivotal role in ceremonies of recognition. Such ceremonies can occur in patient homes to express gratitude for a patient’s service or can be held at facilities to engage the broader Veteran community.
• Benefits assistance – Skilled Veteran volunteers may also assist Veteran patients and family members in understanding and navigating VA benefits.