Hospice provides compassionate care that focuses on comfort, quality, and support for individuals with terminal illness, their families, and caregivers.
What does it mean to be a Companion Volunteer? It could mean a lot of things depending on the patient that you are placed with. Companion volunteers visit one -on-one with the patient, and sometimes with their family members. Examples of what volunteers can do include: (if patient is able)
Volunteers have so many gifts to share. Your talents, skills, and interests can help determine what you do and which patient you visit.
Volunteers become certified through Optage Hospice's training program. Optage Hospice specializes in providing services to those with dementia; volunteers should be comfortable in working with those with dementia - training and continuing support will be provided.
Thank you for your interest!
As a hospice volunteer, you will make a huge difference in the life of the patient(s) that you visit. After submitting your volunteer interest, Optage Volunteer Relations will follow up with an email on next steps. Next steps include: completing a volunteer account, 4-5 hours of online training (volunteers go about the required trainings at their own pace); complete required onboarding documents: a volunteer position description- highlighting the role of a volunteer, Optage Hospice Rights and Responsibilities to our volunteers, and a Volunteers Rights and Responsibilities to Optage Hospice and patients; a criminal background study with fingerprints; Tuberculosis test - both expenses are paid for by Optage.
Once onboarding requirements are completed, volunteers attend a short in-person orientation, tour the campus in which they will be volunteering and meet your patient. Volunteers work independently, are supported by Optage Volunteer Relations and are welcome and encouraged to schedule themselves with the patient based on the volunteer and patients schedule.