Volunteering
The Many Faces of Hospice Volunteers
Volunteers are the heart of hospice care, helping in many ways: through supportive visits with patients and families, spiritual care, errands and special projects, general office assistance, bereavement, community outreach, professional services such as lawyers and accountants and specialty areas at Hospice House like flower arranging. Hospice volunteers are ordinary people of all ages with an extraordinary love and common bond, concern for others. Volunteers contribute to the overall well being of our community one person, one family at a time.
Hospice volunteers come from many walks of life and can provide that essential variety of services necessary to meet an array of care needs. There are opportunities for volunteers to use their time and talents in many ways. They decide how much time, how often and in what capacity they want to volunteer. Opportunities include:
- Supportive visits
- Bereavement
- Assistance with direct patient care
- Spiritual care
- Vigil volunteers
- Fundraising
- General office assistance
- Beautician/Barber services
- Errands and special projects
- Hospice Resale Shop
- Specialty areas at Hospice House
- Professional service volunteers (lawyers, clergy, physicians, accountants, etc.)
- Community outreach/Speakers Program
Volunteer Training
Basic volunteer training consists of seven three-hour sessions (once a week for seven weeks) which allow individuals to do either support (non-patient) or clinical (patient) volunteering. Additional training is offered to anyone interested in more education in a particular area. Spiritual care training is quite comprehensive, lasting 10 weeks.
Interested in becoming a volunteer? Check out our latest training schedule, find a place to help and apply. See how you can help and get more information!
Hospice Happenings newsletter
Teen Volunteer brochure
Neighbors Helping Neighbors flyer
Neighbors Helping Neighbors flyer #2
New Volunteer Training schedule
Teen Volunteer Training schedule
Helderberg Hospice Partnership
Testimonials
When asked, most hospice volunteers and career professionals will readily speak about the deep, remarkable calling that led to their decision to join the hospice movement. Volunteering can be a meaningful, heart-warming experience. Here's what some have said:
"I did not choose this work, it chose me - and I am so glad it did, because this has been the most remarkable calling I've ever experienced."
--Hospice Volunteer
"Volunteering for Hospice of the Western Reserve is an uplifting, rewarding experience. I have turned long, lonely hours into productive time helping others, including myself. Volunteering has seen me through a difficult loss and changed my attitude toward adversities. Remember: God helps those who help themselves."
-- Marilyn R. Richlak, Volunteer
" I wish I had the names of each volunteer to thank them personally for making sure my mom got to see her brother."
--From a nephew, length of stay 6 months
" It was so reassuring knowing that the volunteers were visiting my mother for me; I felt so guilty having to go back home."
--From a daughter, length of stay 5 months
But a career in hospice work can be equally rewarding. Our hospice professionals share their experiences:
"Opportunities and choices are an integral part of our daily lives. I feel fortunate to have been given the opportunity to become part of an organization with a philosophy to serve the community. The choice I made to become a part of Hospice of the Western Reserve has been a rewarding one. I look forward every day to the work I perform and hopefully the skills and talents I bring to the organization will in some small way help make patients' remaining days more comfortable."
-- Connie Taylor, Administrative Assistant, Financial Services
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