“Thank you so much for being there and helping us through those last few days with our father. Your support comfort and caring will never be forgotten. From the bottom of our hearts thanks so much.”
Southern Tier Hospice
Patient Family Member
What is a Hospice Volunteer?
Volunteers are an integral part of hospice. Without volunteers, most hospices would not be able to carry out their mission. Many people choose to volunteer because of the positive previous experience of a family member or friend. Volunteers not only provide valuable services, but provide needed warmth, companionship, friendship and support to patients and their caregivers.
Types of volunteering opportunities include:
Patient Care
Patient Care Volunteers
These Volunteers provide emotional support and companionship to hospice patients and their families. Visits are made to the patient's location (i.e. nursing home, extended care facility, or private home) and time is spent interacting with the patient. You might just sit and talk, or play cards, or watch a favorite TV program, or talk about current events. Visits usually last from 15 minutes to a couple of hours. Volunteers do not provide any medical care.
Vigil Volunteers
Believing no one should die alone, Vigil volunteers provide a presence and comfort to dying patients who have no family available for support during the final hours. Specific training is given to these volunteers and they are scheduled to be "on call" on a rotational basis. In addition, Vigil volunteers maintain communication with distant family and relay final messages of comfort and love, communicate patient needs to Hospice staff and assist distant family with local connections for funeral services or other support resources.
Community Support
Fund Raising
Many Hospice volunteers enjoy the challenge of fund raising. Because insurance reimbursements may not cover all of the costs of hospice care, fund raising is an important ongoing program. Volunteers serve on committees to plan community fund raising events such as the new annual 'Hospice Golf Tournament' and the 'Petal Pushers' geranium sale. Some volunteers may also independently organize fund raising events in their own communities or through local organizations to benefit Southern Tier Hospice & Palliative Care. Fund raising support from volunteers is a crucial element to ensure that Hospice remains a viable healthcare choice in the Chemung, Schuyler and Steuben Counties (New York) service area.
Junior Volunteers
A new program for teens, ages 14-18, focusing on the special energy and vitality of today's youth. Utilizing equipment and supplies provided by Hospice, the junior volunteers focus on video memorializations, journaling, life story recording, companionship for young family members, nursing home visits for companionship and socialization and fundraising events.
Knitting and Crocheting Volunteers
Knit or crochet lap blankets or shawls for our Comfort Shawl program! Supplies of yarn are available, patterns are provided (or use your own!) and pick up of completed projects is available.
Community Education
Educating the community about the benefits of hospice services is one of the major challenges of hospice. Too often patients and families learn about hospice late in an illness. Volunteers join with the professional staff in sharing information and answering questions in a variety of community settings such as community health fairs and fund raising events. Wherever they meet the public, Hospice volunteers are prepared to respond to questions and tell the hospice story.
Office Support
Some Hospice volunteers are more comfortable exercising their office skills than providing direct patient care. Office support volunteers regularly assist with filing, assembling patient information packets, copying manuals and handouts, shredding papers, help with major mailings, and more. Other volunteers stand by to assist with special tasks and short-term clerical requests.
