Hospice Volunteers

Hospice Volunteers

When

August 21, 2024    
All Day

Contact

angela.saldana@ehab.com
Enhabit Home Health and Hospice

Where

Enhabit Home health and Hospice
1301 Harrison Avenue, Suite B, McComb, MS, 39648, Southwest MS

Event Type

Have you ever dreamed of the opportunity to make an impact in the lives of others? Maybe you have a special talent that makes others smile? Or free time to share a laugh with someone? A hospice volunteer does just that each day.

What is a hospice volunteer?

Hospice volunteers are compassionate individuals who provide comfort and support to patients facing a life-limiting illness. Volunteers offer specialized skills and support outside of the clinical team.

There is no one-size-fits-all to what makes a hospice volunteer. Some volunteers participate because they want to give back to the community or they might have a special talent that brings joy to others. However, each volunteer makes a significant impact on patients and their families.

What does a hospice volunteer do?

Volunteers ensure that the patient and family’s needs are met in a variety of ways. This can be through companionship, assisting with everyday tasks or providing respite time to a patient’s caregivers. Hospice volunteers can also make an impact by assisting the hospice agency with administrative duties.

This can look like:

  • Sitting with a patient, socializing and providing a listening ear
  • Helping with general office support (filing, shredding, etc.)
  • Running errands for patients and families
  • Writing a journal or life story with patients as a memento for the family
  • Playing games, reading or listening to music with patients
  • Walking or caring for family pets
  • Assisting with light house cleaning
  • Providing bereavement support for family members

Hospice volunteers have the unique opportunity to provide a type of care that is companionship-based. This non-clinical support oftentimes helps patients remain in high spirits. It might even give them or their loved ones a break from thinking about their illness.

Volunteers can also use their unique backgrounds to connect with patients on a deeper level.

Spreading joy as a hospice volunteer

For some, being a hospice volunteer is all about spreading joy in the ways you know best – whether that is through laughter, friendship or using your talents and hobbies to make others smile.

Connecting patients with their passions

Oftentimes, a diagnosis or medical condition will disrupt a patient’s passion. Hospice volunteers try to help patients continue doing the things that matter most to them while living with a terminal illness.

How do I become a hospice volunteer?

It is clear that hospice volunteers can make significant impacts in the lives of patients and loved ones navigating the end-of-life journey. If you feel called to do the same, consider becoming a hospice volunteer.

To volunteer with Enhabit, you must:

  • Be least 14 years old
  • Have experienced no significant personal loss in the past year
  • Complete a criminal background check and tuberculosis test (paid for by Enhabit)
  • Provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or qualify for an exemption if unvaccinated
  • Complete an eight-hour hybrid orientation

Getting started as a hospice volunteer is as easy as visiting our volunteer page and filling out a brief application. We look forward to working together to provide a better way to care for our patients and their loved ones.