Hospice Volunteer - Vigil

Description

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

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 upon arrival, and then again with 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
8. Function withing 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 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
11. Maintain patient, family and caregiver confidentiality and abide by federal regulations, and established personnel policies and procedures. e.g., HIPAA
12. Assure 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.)

Reports To

Volunteer Coordinator but may receive oversight of duties and assignments from another member of the IDG (on-call personnel)