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Hospice

Hospice of Mercy Volunteer Program

Volunteers are a key element of the friendship, support and comfort Hospice of Mercy provides to patients and their families during a critical time in their lives. It is yet another example of the Mercy Touch that emphasizes the caring in the healthcare Mercy provides.

Our volunteers go anywhere a patient calls home, including nursing homes or assisted living facilities. Their service is a tremendous help to families, as well as rewarding, fulfilling work for the volunteers.

How Hospice of Mercy Volunteers Help

Patient Assignments

Hospice of Mercy volunteers who are matched with patients complete 15 hours of training prior to being matched with a patient. Hospice of Mercy volunteers are matched 1:1 with a patient and/or family and help with:

Friendly visiting
Respite care - staying with the patient while the care giver runs errands, goes to an appointment, etc.
Light housekeeping
Medication delivery - volunteers pick up medications at Mercy Medical Center and deliver them to the patient
Run errands
Pet therapy - certified pet therapy dogs and their owners visit patients and provide pet companionship
11th hour volunteers stay with the patient for the last 24 to 48 hours of life. (Additional training required)
Bereavement volunteers assist the Hospice of Mercy bereavement staff.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Volunteers take prayer shawls for our patients. Prayer Shawls are given to Hospice patients by the Hospice of Mercy Chaplains. You do not need to go through training to be a Prayer Shawl volunteer. You do not need to know how to knit or crochet. The Hospice of Mercy volunteer office has patterns for the prayer shawls.

Office Volunteers

Hospice of Mercy office volunteers help out in the Hospice office with filing, copying, putting packets together, etc. Training is provided by the Hospice of Mercy office staff. We ask for a 2-3 hour per week commitment.