Hospice Volunteers
Give the Gift of Caring
You can make a difference in the lives of hospice patients and their families. As a hospice volunteer, you can give the gift of companionship and emotional support to someone with a serious life-limiting illness — and provide much needed support for their caregivers.
How you can help
Our volunteers fulfill a variety of roles, including:
- Working directly with patients in their homes or in a long-term care setting
- Assisting with clerical duties, such as answering phones, helping with data entry and other tasks as needed
- Delivering medical supplies to patients
- Providing caregiver relief, which could include running errands, such as picking up groceries or walking a dog, or helping with other tasks, as appropriate
Volunteer requirements
- Must be 18 or older
- Be able to dedicate four hours a week to hospice care
- Commit to at least one year of service
- Attend orientation and a 2-day patient care training class
Patient care training
You do not need to have any clinical background and you will be trained and supported by the hospice program should you have any questions or concerns.
Attendance at volunteer orientation, acceptance into our 2-day training class, and successful completion of the training course are required prior to becoming a patient care volunteer.
The 2-hour orientation provides you an opportunity to learn more about Scripps Hospice care. It also allows us to learn more about you.
The 2-day training class will prepare you for your role as a patient care provider, including:
- Boundary management
- Listening skills
- How to communicate
- Family dynamics
- Cultural diversity and more