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Volunteers are at the heart of hospice

Our In-Home Hospice Volunteers provide emotional, social, spiritual and practical (non-medical) support for people living with a life-limiting illness, their Caregivers and families.

Caring for someone at the end of life offers a deeply meaningful experience for both the Client and Volunteer alike. It opens a window into the richness of human diversity, presenting unique social and cultural perspectives, and inviting a deeper exploration of one's personal legacy and concepts of self.

Come join our compassionate team of volunteers!

Our next Volunteer training is in March 2019.
Training typically includes 20 hours of engaging classroom presentations and up to 10 hours of interactive online modules that you can do at home.

To fill out a volunteer application click here.

Applications and inquiries can be sent to: volunteers@hbhospice.com.

Who are our volunteers?

Volunteers in Hospice are:

interested in giving their time, energy, wisdom and skills to provide person/family-centred care collaboratively as part of a team, to individuals and families facing life-limiting illness, death and bereavement
caring and compassionate, with excellent communication and listening skills
reliable, honest, flexible and open
aware that their role is not to “fix”, give advice or solve problems
willing to learn and grow personally and professionally
comfortable with openly talking about death, dying and bereavement
able to be present with people experiencing a range of emotions
aware of their own judgments and have a capacity to suspend them
committed to principles and practices that are inclusive, respectful and celebrate diversity
dedicated to their own self-care and well being

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:

Companionship and active listening
Caregiver respite
Assistance with writing, scrapbooking, story-telling and other legacy work
Reading out loud, playing board games, doing arts and crafts
Playing and/or listening to music
Watching movies and television
Running errands or accompanying someone to the store, an appointment, religious/faith services
Outings (i.e. going for coffee, to the park, a Community Centre)
Practical tasks related to mobility (getting in and out of bed or around the home)
Light meal preparation
Providing Complimentary Therapies such as Reiki and Therapeutic Touch
Supporting other self-care routines such as meditation and relaxation
Providing a variety of non-medical comfort measures, basic personal care and mouth care

Find out more about who we are

Please explore our site to familiarize yourself with our range of services and don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Thanks for stopping by!