Be a Hospice Volunteer!

The Patient Care Volunteer  |  The Bereavement Volunteer  |  The Office Volunteer
The Thrift Shop Volunteer  |  Volunteer Training Schedule  |  Volunteer Opportunities

The Patient Care Volunteer

• Provides practical help and emotional support to terminally ill patients and their families, making regular home visits to offer friendship and diversion, to serve as a willing and sensitive listener, to facilitate communication between the patient, the patient's family, friends and other caregivers. Volunteers may also visit patients in a care facility.
• Provides respite for the caregiver, assists the family with errands, household chores, telephone calls, etc.

• You become part of a very special group of people.
• You receive in-depth training and the full support of your supervisors and other team members.
• You meet, and are genuinely helpful to many wonderful people.
• You learn about yourself, about life and death, living and dying.

"Hospice affirms life. Hospice exists to provide support and care for persons in the last phases of incurable disease so that they might live as fully and as comfortably as possible. Hospice recognizes dying as a normal process whether or not resulting from disease. Hospice neither hastens nor postpones death. Hospice exists in the hope and belief that, through appropriate care and the promotion of a caring community sensitive to their needs, patients and families may attain a degree of mental and spiritual preparation for death that is satisfactory to them."

- taken from National Hospice Organization Standards of a Hospice Program of Care

• A desire to help and time to give
• Compassion and kindness
• Steadiness, calmness
• Emotional maturity
• A sense of humor
• A reverence for life
• A respect for differences and diversity
• Ability to listen, listen, and listen
• A non-judgmental attitude
• Commitment to learning and growing
• Good habits of self-care
• Willingness to ask for help
• Willingness to accept direction
• Commitment to Hospice philosophy

The Hospice Patient Care Volunteer is a member of the Hospice Team, which includes the physician, the nurse, the social worker, the home health aide, the family, the clergy, etc.

Patient Care Volunteers must complete an initial training program. Training covers the physical, psychological, emotional, financial, spiritual, and social concerns of the patient and family. Training is provided by professionals and by experienced Hospice personnel. Following training, volunteers meet twice monthly for mutual support and ongoing training.

Patient Care Volunteers must be willing to be flexible and must have your own transportation and satisfactory auto liability insurance.

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The Bereavement Volunteer

Bereavement volunteers work with the volunteer bereavement team, under the supervision of the Program Coordinator, in conducting the Bereavement Support Groups, Grief Education programs and telephone calls to bereaved people.

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The Office Volunteer

Office volunteers do general office work in the Hospice office. Tasks include basic clerical work, letter-writing, filing, handling requests for information and referrals, reception, telephoning, and preparing bulk rate mailings. Training is provided, but volunteers must already have good written and oral communications skills. Office volunteers must have completed the initial Hospice Volunteer Training Program.

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The Thrift Shop Volunteer

Sorting, Pricing, Repairing, Sales, Merchandising, Cleaning and Organizing

Working in the Thrift Shop is Fun! And best of all is knowing that your work supports the work of the Patient Care and Bereavement Volunteers who provide loving support and care to our patients and their families and to bereaved persons. Call Karla McDaniel, Thrift Shop Supervisor at 760-366-1050 for information about volunteering in the Thrift Shop. The Hospice Volunteer Training is not required for Thrift Shop Volunteers.

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Patient Care Volunteer Training Schedule for 2012

Mondays & Wednesdays 6:00 - 8:00pm, February 6th through February 22nd

Mondays & Wednesdays 6:00 - 8:00pm, May 7th through May 23rd

Mondays & Wednesdays 6:00 - 8:00pm, August 6th through August 22nd

Mondays & Wednesdays 6:00 - 8:00pm, November 5th through November 21st

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Volunteer Opportunities

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If you are interested in doing volunteer work please call Kay Star, Program Coordinator at (760) 366-1308.

Or you can Email: hospiceofmb@gmail.com with "Volunteer" in the subject line. Please be sure to include your full name, telephone number, mailing address and email. Please specify the Volunteer Opportunity you are interested in: Patient Care Volunteer, Bereavement Volunteer, Office Volunteer or Thrift Shop Volunteer.

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