Volunteer
Do you have a gift for caring?
Become a Zephyr Hospice Volunteer!
Hospice volunteers are vital members of our hospice team. Volunteers contribute their time and compassion to enhance patients’ end of life comfort and to provide loved ones with the additional support they need.
Volunteers in hospice may find it personally gratifying, intellectually stimulating, and emotionally meaningful to assist those in need at such a critical point in their lives.
How can you give the gift of caring?
Whether you prefer to be directly or indirectly involved with patient and family care, hospice volunteers are able to use their unique talents and skill sets to support hospice and provide patients and loved ones with a more comfortable end-of-life experience.
Direct Care Volunteers
Direct care volunteers can provide support and comfort to patients and families in many ways. If you choose to become a patient care volunteer, you are most likely to spend a majority of your day with hospice patients and may be expected to travel to a destination where a patient lives – this could be their home or a care facility.
We would love to use your time and talents in ways you would most enjoy, such as:
-
Sitting with patients to provide companionship and a comforting presence
-
Playing music for patients to provide a soothing and joyful atmosphere
-
Preparing meals for patients and families
-
Assisting in light household chores
Administrative Volunteers
For volunteers who prefer not to work with patients directly, their time and effort can be in assisting with administrative and general office tasks. If you have previous experience in administrative work, this would be a great choice for you.
Common tasks where indirect care volunteers provide assistance are:
-
Helping prepare mailings and newsletters for community outreach
-
Assisting in general data entry tasks and other clerical duties
-
Helping in preparations and setup for special community events and outings
Volunteer Training
Before beginning volunteer service, hospice volunteers are provided with training. This training prepares you for the administrative services they may perform for the hospice, or the ways in which you will be directly assisting patients, caregivers, and families, including:
-
Understanding the hospice philosophy of care
-
How to know boundaries as a volunteer when interacting with patients and families
-
An overview of the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of a patient and the patient’s family during the end-of-life journey
-
Understanding the services offered by hospice
-
How to communicate with patients, their families, and friends
-
How to assist patients and families with grief, loss, and bereavement
-
Patient and health information privacy
Benefits of Volunteering
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
By volunteering, you’re making a difference where you live. You’re giving back and helping others, which promotes satisfaction and self-worth and is good for your health—mind, body, and spirit.
MEET NEW PEOPLE
Helping at events, greeting guests at our inpatient hospice centers, and meeting other volunteers expands your social network to include more like-minded people and creates more fun in your life.
ENHANCE YOUR RESUME
For some, enhancing a college or job application is a benefit of becoming a hospice volunteer. Volunteer service always reflects positively when a college or organization evaluates your resume.
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS:
-Ongoing educational opportunities
-Recognition of service (gift cards, movie tickets)
-Mileage reimbursement
-Social Activities
★★★★★
"I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for being there for my Mom at the most important time. I am still crying 24/7 but find enormous comfort knowing you were with her. I am positive it made a huge difference with my Mom too. I am sure you felt like you knew my Mom for a long time in such a short time after all her life stories. She was such a hoot."
Bev in Phoenix, AZ
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS!