Hospice of Mercy – To Comfort Always
Volunteer Opportunities
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.
What’s involved in becoming a Hospice volunteer?
Patient/family volunteers with Hospice of Mercy become very involved with patients and their families. The commitment to help can last anywhere from weeks to months, usually involving visits during daytime hours. The focus is on relieving the family and providing comfort, support and companionship for the patient in their home environment.
A family can be assigned more than one volunteer, depending on their need.
Volunteers often become good friends, listening and responding to families’ needs with understanding and empathy. They help maintain a sense of normalcy and quality of life for the patient and family. Volunteer tasks include companionship, respite for family members, listening, shopping, meal preparation, light housework, running errands or transportation.
Bereavement volunteers act as sensitive listeners to family members after a death has occurred. They stay in contact by phone or home visits, and may accompany family members to grief support and social events.
Our volunteers also provide support to survivors as they move through the stages of grief. The goal is to help family members adjust their lives after the loss.
Our “11th Hour” volunteers are available to sit with dying patients for anywhere from 24 to 72 hours. This is a critical service, especially for patients who are alone or need companionship, or to provide a break for the family. This type of volunteer work requires extra training.
For those who would like to help the program in an office setting, we welcome office support volunteers to help in the Hospice office with mailing and clerical duties.
What kind of training do Hospice volunteers receive?
Training for Hospice volunteers is offered twice a year, and is required for all volunteers before assignments are made. It is an 18-hour class over six weeks. Daytime and evening sessions are available.
This training involves a lot of discussion and valuable information that can be used in your work as a Hospice volunteer, as well as your personal life.
In fact, we encourage anyone interested in Hospice to take this class, even if you’re undecided about committing to be a volunteer, because it is a good education on hospice issues.
Topics include:
- Hospice philosophy
- Attitudes toward death
- Communication skills
- Preparing for death at home
- Role of physicians
- Role of nurses
- Role of family services
- Role of spiritual care
- Role of volunteers
- Grief and bereavement
We ask our volunteers to:
- make a commitment
- attend training and monthly meetings
- give at least one hour a week
- be a good listener who is able to maintain confidentiality
- be comfortable with diverse spiritual beliefs and lifestyles
- have transportation available
- not have experienced the death of a family member, or loss through divorce or separation, within the past year
For more information, contact Kay Nelson at 319-398-6628 to become a Hospice of Mercy volunteer.
