Optage Hospice Death Doula Volunteer Opportunity

Make a meaningful difference at the bedside when it matters most.

Optage Hospice is seeking compassionate volunteers to serve as Death Doulas (End-of-Life Doulas). Death doulas provide a calming, supportive presence for hospice patients and their loved ones during the final stages of life. Through companionship, active listening, and compassionate presence, volunteers help create an environment of dignity, comfort, and peace.

What You'll Do

• Provide non-medical companionship and emotional support to hospice patients.
• Offer a calm and reassuring presence during end-of-life vigils.
• Sit quietly with patients who may not have family present.
• Support family members through active listening and compassionate presence.
• Read aloud, play music, facilitate meaningful rituals if requested, or simply be present in silence.
• Collaborate with the hospice team and volunteer coordinator when questions or concerns arise.

Volunteer Qualities

We are looking for individuals who are:

• completed onboarding as companion volunteer
• Compassionate and empathetic
• Comfortable with silence and presence
• Reliable and dependable
• Respectful of diverse cultural, spiritual, and personal beliefs
• Able to maintain confidentiality
• Emotionally mature and willing to support individuals at the end of life

Training Provided

All volunteers receive specialized training on:

• The role and boundaries of the end-of-life doula
• Understanding the dying process
• Communication and emotional support
• Cultural and spiritual awareness
• Vigil support during the final hours of life
• Supporting families and practicing volunteer self-care

Time Commitment

Volunteer opportunities are flexible and scheduled based on patient needs and volunteer availability. Death doulas may be called upon to provide bedside presence during a patient's final days or hours.

Why Volunteer?

You cannot change the outcome, but you can change whether someone faces the end of life alone. By offering your presence, you help bring dignity, peace, comfort, and reassurance to patients and their loved ones during one of life's most sacred journeys.

Interested in learning more?

Contact the Optage Hospice Volunteer Team to explore how you can become a trained Hospice Death Doula volunteer.

"The gift of presence is one of the greatest gifts we can offer another person."