End-of_Life Companion (Hospice)

Honoring Life's Final Moments with dignity and care.

• Can you sit with someone in silence and still make a profound difference?
• Do you have the heart to walk beside patients and families at the end of life's journey?
• Would you like to be the person who brings peace and dignity to a patient's final hours?

End-of-Life Companion Volunteers (Vigil Volunteers) provide calm, compassionate presence to patients in their final hours, offering comfort, companionship, and support to those who may be alone or to families navigating the uncertainty of the dying process. Through quiet presence, attentive listening, and steady communication with hospice staff, Vigil Volunteers help create a peaceful environment while honoring the dignity, needs, and wishes of each patient. Their role brings reassurance, humanity, and gentle guidance during one of life’s most sacred transitions.

See below for full position description.

Opportunities in the following counties:

Sioux, Lyon, Osceola, O'Brien, Clay, Dickinson, Palo Alto, Emmet, Kossuth

This volunteer opportunity is flexible to your own schedule, availability, and level of comfort. No level of commitment is too small.

TITLE

Vigil Volunteer

REPORTS TO

Volunteer Coordinator but may receive oversight of duties and assignments from another member of

the IDG (on-call personnel)

DESCRIPTION

The Vigil Volunteer offers companionship, comfort and presence to patients during the time

immediately prior to their death. 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; this

may also include staff if the patient resides at a facility. Support is provided in a variety of ways,

including being a calm presence, talking and listening to the family/caregivers, or sharing silence.

QUALIFICATIONS

The Vigil Volunteer must have an understanding of Hospice philosophy and be familiar with the dying

process, i.e., recognize when death is imminent. He/she will receive additional education/training on

anticipatory grief, empathetic presence, reflective listening, and the rights of the dying. He/she must be

a strong communicator, be comfortable around death and be able to maintain composure in stressful

situations. He/she must also be willing to be called for assignment on short-notice and have some

flexibility with scheduling. Additionally, he/she must:

1. Be at least 18 years of age
2. Complete the Direct Care Volunteer training and orientation (including all necessary paperwork and education)
3. Complete additional Vigil Volunteer training (4 hours), including review and signature of the Vigil Volunteer Job Description and the Vigil Volunteer Orientation Verification form

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Demonstrate understanding of the dying process and ability to provide compassionate support to the patient (and family, if present)
2. Communicate patient status and provide update to the appropriate IDG/on-call staff member after each visit
3. Report any concerns, problems, or sudden changes in patient, family and caregiver status to the appropriate IDG/on-call staff member immediately
4. If in a facility, check in with the facility staff upon arrival, and then again when leaving
5. Participate in Volunteer support or peer groups and/or training with other Volunteers
6. Communicate timely when a Vigil Volunteer request is received (even if unavailable to make visit)
7. Maintain regular communication with the Volunteer Coordinator (VC)
8. Function within authorized activities according to the individual’s ability, knowledge, and training. Does not assume tasks or decisions which are outside the scope of the Vigil Volunteer or are within the domain of other persons, e.g., family, caregiver, hospice personnel or facility staff
9. Document and record hours of service and return Volunteer Visit Notes to the Volunteer Coordinator (VC) within a timely manner, i.e., 24-48 hours
10. Provide update on patient status, including activities performed by Vigil Volunteer, to the next Vigil Volunteer and/or Volunteer Coordinator (VC)
11. Maintain patient, family and caregiver confidentiality and abide by federal regulations related to privacy practices, e.g., HIPAA
12. Assure for compliance with local, state, and federal laws, Medicare regulations, and established personnel policies and procedures
13. Meet or exceed delivery of Company Service Standards and operate under the company’s Code of Conduct
14. Be evaluated annually based on competency and performance
15. Participate in continuing education and training, including mandatory annual in-services (HIPAA, Tuberculosis, Emergency Preparedness, etc.