Volunteers are at the heart of hospice
In-Home Hospice Volunteers provide emotional, social, spiritual and practical (non-medical) support for people living with a life-limiting illness, along with their families and Caregivers.
The impact that Volunteers have on the lives of our Clients is invaluable. Their compassionate presence and attentiveness can provide a deep sense of comfort and safety, while activities such as life reflection and legacy work may offer a renewed sense of meaning and purpose. By making visits to their homes it also provides Clients with the opportunity to maintain a sense of autonomy and to continue to surround themselves with the social and cultural traditions that are most valuable to them. The In-home Volunteer program also provides respite support for Caregivers, to ensure that Caregivers are able to rest, take care of themselves and avoid burnout. Time commitmentVolunteers typically visit clients for 2 to 4 hours on a weekly basis. We also require all volunteers to make a one-year commitment to the hospice.
Please note the following changes in response to the Covid-19 pandemic:
In order to ensure the safety of both our clients and volunteers all volunteer support is currently taking place remotely either by phone or online. Many of our clients are particularly isolated at this time and so providing support in this way is extremely valuable. Currently our entire volunteer training is being made available via an online platform however once Covid-19 safety measures are lifted and home visits are resumed volunteers will be expected to complete a hands-on body mechanics training session in person. Please note that due to Covid-19 measures there may be a wait time to complete the entire training process but that we encourage anyone interested in volunteering to please get in touch with us and/or send in a volunteer application (linked below). Volunteer trainingPlease inquire about start dates for our next 30+ hour volunteer training.
Our training is offered free of charge and includes both a classroom and online component. Classroom training sessions are held over several weeks (typically two weekday evenings per week) and are led by a number of engaging speakers working in the field of end-of-life care. To download an application click here (.pdf) OR here (.doc) Applications and inquiries can be sent to: [email protected]. |
Who are our volunteers?Volunteers in Hospice are:
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What should you expect from the volunteer role?The In-Home Hospice Volunteer role is rooted in offering a compassionate and attentive presence to our Clients. Activities may vary depending on a Client's needs and interests. and we take care to match our Volunteers according to their own unique attributes and abilities. Individual visits usually last two to four hours and take place on a weekly basis.
A volunteer may offer:
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