Source Of Unconditional Love (SOUL) Hospice (Dog and Owner) Volunteer

Are You and Your Furry Friend Ready to Be Hospice Heroes? Then Join Our Compassionate Volunteer Team at Mercy Hospice!

Do you have a gentle, loving dog with a certified wag and a heart of gold? We're looking for passionate volunteers and their therapy dogs to bring comfort, companionship, and smiles to patients and their families. This is more than volunteering; it's a chance to share the unconditional love of your canine companion and make a profound difference in someone's recovery journey. Compassionate caring individuals and their dog are needed to provide companionship to hospice patients and their families. Visiting with a patient can include allowing the patient to hold the dog or just sitting bedside and allowing them to pet the animal. Visits can be made when the time works for you and the facility or patient. You will be matched with a patient/family that is within an acceptable distance from your home area.

What You'll Do:

• Provide much-needed companionship and support to hospital patients and their families.
• Serve as a valued member of the hospice team, following a collaborative Plan of Care.
• Make visits on a flexible schedule that works for you, the patient, and the hospice agency.

We're Looking for the Best in Human & Canine:

For Volunteers:

• A commitment to 100 volunteer hours over one year (about 2 hours per week).
• Highly developed dog-training and handling skills with a strong bond to your dog.
• Willingness to complete a background check, a two-step TB test (provided free), and state-mandated hospice training (free and online) within 90 days of application acceptance.
• Must attend 4 Volunteer Meetings per year.

For Our Four-Legged Stars:

• Must be one year of age or older.
• Current registration with Pet Partners® Therapy Animal Program, Therapy Dogs Incorporated, or Canine Good Citizen Certification*.
• Must pass an annual medical screening with a veterinarian.
• Must pass behavioral screening tests conducted by a SOUL evaluator.
• Proficiency in basic obedience and current on all vaccinations.
• Required to be bathed and thoroughly brushed within 24 hours of each visit, with trimmed and filed smooth toenails.
• Ready to start this incredibly rewarding journey? Your next best friend is waiting! Apply today to become a volunteer with a heart—and a leash!

Accountabilities and Job-Related Competencies:

• Follows all Mercy Hospice/Dignity Health Policies and Procedures
• Maintains confidentiality of protected health information
• Communicates effectively with patients/families
• Works as a member of the hospice team and reports urgent needs of the patient and family to the appropriate team members
• Keeps Hospice leadership informed of patient/family status as appropriate
• Ability to take direction from the hospice team
• Responds appropriately to unexpected occurrences or emergencies with patients/families
• Communicates with appropriate staff any concerns re: patient/family
• Maintains appropriate personal boundaries in the relationship with the patient, family and hospice team
• Maintains appropriate and timely documentation.
• Ability to provide respectful care to patients and families with diverse backgrounds, race, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, and culture
• Keeps established time commitment to the patients and notifies supervisor if unable or if time commitment changes
• Willingness to learn about different cultures
• Maintains all mandatory training and in service requirements.
• Willingly accepts patient assignments and make regular visits as arranged
• Willingness to make a one year commitment of 100 volunteer hours (2 hours per week)
• Attends a minimum of 4 hospice volunteer meetings per year
• Adheres to safety standards and practices universal precautions