Volunteer

POSITION SUMMARY:

The non medical volunteer is a hospice trained individual from a professional or non-professional

background who provides non-medical support services to patients and families, to the professional

hospice staff, and to the organization. Volunteers embody the essence of hospice philosophy, and

are essential to the successful operation of the hospice program. Volunteers may choose the area

in which they prefer to function and the hours they are willing to donate. All duties and

responsibilities of volunteers require professionalism, sound judgment, and effective

communication skills.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Patient Care Volunteers

o Provide visits to support patients and families as outlined in the Plan of Care,

including companionship, caregiver relief, running errands and other duties as

assigned.

o Provide Angel/11th hour support to patient and/or families as outlined in the Plan of

Care, sitting bedside with actively dying patients

• Administrative Volunteers

o Provide assistance in the hospice office or with hospice activities

• Bereavement Volunteers

o Provide support to bereavement clients under the direction of the Bereavement

Coordinator and the Volunteer Coordinator

• All Volunteers

o Submit documentation of all contacts with patients/families, or of any volunteer activity,

in a timely manner to the Volunteer Coordinator.

o Participates in the in-service programs to keep informed about current information

pertinent to the volunteer.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Understanding and acceptance of hospice philosophy.
• Ability to support dying patients and their families utilizing skills learned in volunteer orientation.
• Maintain confidentiality of patient/family interactions and information
• Ability to follow through on patient care assignments in a reliable and dependable manner.
• Ability to communicate effectively both written and verbally.