Volunteer Info
The Volunteer for Hospice of the Sacred Heart is defined as a person of care, compassion, competency and commitment to the terminally ill patient as well as to the patient's family members/caregivers.
The volunteer will have a clear understanding of his/her role in that capacity, as well as a clear understanding of his/her membership on the hospice team. The volunteer will be held to a code of ethics which respects the confidentiality of each patient.
Hospice of the Sacred Heart provides a comprehensive volunteer training program. The mission statement and philosophy are integral to the training process.
The Coordinator of Volunteers will oversee, as well as participate in, the training sessions. Other facilitators for the training sessions may include the Executive Director, the Director of Patient Care and/or any relevant professionals recommended by the above-mentioned team.
Volunteer training is on-going throughout the year. Specifically scheduled training sessions will be offered whenever the need for training hospice volunteers develops.
The training sessions will be a comprehensive overview of the role of the hospice volunteer, as well as a clear and concise explanation of hospice volunteer guidelines. The training sessions will also include recommendations for appropriate intervention with the patient and the patient's family members. Confidentiality will be stressed throughout the training. A pre/post test will serve as an indicator for the prospective volunteer's selection.
The Volunteer will hopefully possess the ability to:
- Act as a caring presence while interacting with the patient, the patient's family and caregiver during this life changing event.
- Effectively communicate with staff, patients and others
- Physically visit hospice patients
- Contribute observations regarding patient's home environment and family relationships at IDT meetings
- Complete required documentation in a timely manner
Volunteers may select administrative/clerical services and/or direct patient care services. Some direct patient care services may include: sitting with patient while family away, visiting with patient, visiting with family, assisting with food preparation, feeding patient, light housekeeping/yard work, reading to patient, writing cards/letters, transporting of caregiver/patient, running errands, or participating in bereavement support.
Hospice Volunteers provide a variety of services from clerical services to community education to patient visitation. Hospice of the Sacred Heart needs your generous response and welcomes any opportunity for further discussion about the Volunteer Program for Hospice of the Sacred Heart.
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer for Hospice of the Sacred Heart, may complete an application, either on-line or in person.