This volunteer role is similar to being “on-call,” as needs can arise with little notice. Tasks may include reading (the Bible, books, or poems), offering prayer, playing soft music, or simply sitting quietly at the bedside.
When a vigil is needed, a staff member will contact you to check your availability. If you’re not available, no worries—we’ll move on to the next volunteer. If you are, we’ll share the patient’s details and confirm how long you can stay so we can coordinate with others.
If we know in advance that a patient may be nearing transition, I’ll send a group message to the Vigil team to give a heads-up and check availability for the next few days.
All Vigil Volunteers receive special training for this role, including what to expect and how to provide support during a vigil.
For more information or to arrange for an interview, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator
Cheryl.Forrester@Heartlandhospice.com
"No one should die alone. Each human should die with the sight of a loving human face." - Mother Teresa