hospice volunteer opportunities

Volunteering at a hospice is one of the most selfless things you can do with your time. As a hospice volunteer, you can be a valuable source of comfort for patients and their family members during some of their most challenging times. Not only do you provide comfort, but volunteering is also an excellent way to develop interpersonal skills and experience personal growth.

This blog will explore how you can go about volunteering at a hospice.

The Requirements To Be a Hospice Volunteer

While each hospice may have its own guidelines and requirements, it’s common for hospice providers to require that volunteers:

Submit a background check
Have a willingness to serve
Be flexible with a kind and compassionate attitude
Be punctual and reliable
Have a good understanding of hospice services and the philosophy of the provider
Provide a negative Tuberculosis (TB) test through a 2-step skin test, blood test, or chest x-ray
Not having experienced a significant loss in your life over the past 12 months
Have basic computer skills and be comfortable logging patient visit notes in an online documentation system

Hospice volunteers do not need to have a medical degree or prior experience, as the hospice team will provide training. This usually involves learning about:

The physical, spiritual, and emotional aspects of death
Professional boundaries
Patient and family rights
Patient confidentiality
Grief and loss
Cultural and spiritual diversity

It’s important to remember that as a hospice volunteer, you are not a trained medical professional, nor are you a replacement for hospice carers. To keep you, the staff, and the patient safe, volunteers are not allowed to perform tasks that could injure the patient, such as cutting hair or trimming nails.

The Steps To Becoming a Volunteer

Research hospices in your area: Begin your search by using the hospice locator tools available on the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s (NHPCO) website to find hospices near you. Make sure to thoroughly research the services and needs of the hospice to ensure it’s a good fit.
Contact the hospice: Once you’ve found a potential hospice provider, reach out to learn about their volunteer services. Most hospice providers will have these details on their website with a simple application process. Take the time to discuss the available volunteer roles and expectations with the volunteer coordinator. Generally, volunteers can offer direct patient care in the form of emotional support, participation in activities with patients, and help with light tasks. You may also be asked to assist with behind-the-scenes support like administrative tasks.
Apply and undergo training: Follow the instructions of the hospice provider, where you’ll provide information like contact details, references, and background checks. The application process may also involve a TB test that is provided by the hospice. During this process, you’ll participate in training so you can serve with confidence and be a real asset to the hospice care team, the patients, and their loved ones.

Volunteer at Orange Hospice

Lend a helping hand at Orange Hospice and make a meaningful impact on the lives of our patients and their loved ones. To join our volunteer team, please fill out our volunteer application or contact us at (741) 790-0594 to learn more.

Weldon C.

20:28 18 Nov 24

The caregivers that assisted our family were always professional, and compassionate! This enabled my family member to live in our family home, witch kept his Independence and personal identity intact which meant a lot to him thank you thank you all

My Nurse Concierge Nursing S.

05:07 15 Nov 24

I've worked as a nurse for quite some time, and I'm a passionate home care nurse. I've worked for many different home health and hospice agencies, and one of my favorite agencies to work with is Orange Hospice. I truly admire their philosophy of reaching out to the community and listening to what people say about what they want for their care. Moreover, they do put their patients as a top priority, and I see the difference that they are making in other people's lives. I'm glad to have found a good agency to introduce to people who need hospice services.

18:07 14 Nov 24

Sung P.

05:25 14 Nov 24

"Exceptional Care and Compassionate Support!"Our family recently experienced the incredible support of Orange Hospice, and we couldn't be more grateful. From the very beginning, we were met with warmth, empathy, and professionalism. The entire team went above and beyond to ensure that our loved one was comfortable and cared for with the utmost dignity.The nurses and care coordinators were always attentive, answering all our questions and providing updates with kindness and patience. They made sure not only that our family member was at ease but also that we, as a family, felt supported throughout the entire process.What stood out the most was the genuine compassion of the staff. They didn't just treat it as a job; they truly cared about our loved one's comfort and our family's well-being. The level of personalized care and emotional support we received was beyond our expectations.If you're looking for a hospice service that truly cares, I highly recommend Orange Hospice. They made a difficult time so much more bearable for our family, and for that, we are deeply thankful.

22:03 13 Nov 24

sook C.

22:30 12 Nov 24

I really liked Orange Hospice's services. My mother was well cared for by the staff, they were all very caring and compassionate to my mother and my family. Thank you so much especially to Natt and the rest of the team for the loving care you gave to my family.

Darlene F.

18:48 08 Nov 24

I positive .my Aunt would have never received the level of care that Orange Hospice has provided. I only need to text Nat and literally within hours I have whatever meds, weekly texts from.the urses in detail listing all her vitals, her conversation , her well.being alert etc. I.consider myself and our family extremely fortunate to.have been provided this level of care. Believe I have heard horror stories from my friends concerning their loved ones. My Aunt just celebrated her 96th birthday omOctober 18th. That would not have been possible withoutOrange Hospice. A shout out to Kathy for her detsiled weekly assessments . You have definitely extended her life. Thanks to all of you

Walker P.

05:14 08 Nov 24

This is an excellent hospice company. As a DON at one of the leading Skilled Nursing Facilities in the Orange County area I would 100 percent recommend this company. Always professional and on point. All nursing services are on point.

Nam P.

15:54 30 Oct 24

I can't express enough gratitude for the compassionate care my loved one received at Orange Hospice. The staff were incredibly attentive, providing not just medical support, but also emotional comfort during a very challenging time.Thank you

Maurice L.

00:14 23 Oct 24

Orange Hospice delivered exceptional service that truly exceeded our expectations. We are immensely grateful for their unwavering support during a difficult time. Their team was consistently available whenever we needed assistance, ensuring that our family member received the highest level of care. We were particularly impressed by their compassionate approach and extensive knowledge, which provided us with comfort and confidence throughout the entire process. Thank you, Orange Hospice, for your remarkable dedication and support.

Sydney P.

23:24 22 Oct 24

Orange Hospice was a true blessing for our family as they cared for my grandmother with such tenderness and respect. The staff was attentive, patient, and always went above and beyond to ensure she was comfortable and well-cared for. They also provided emotional support for our family during a very difficult time. The compassion and professionalism they showed made a huge difference, and we are forever grateful for their kindness. We couldn’t recommend Orange Hospice enough for anyone needing hospice care.

Maile F.

16:32 27 Aug 24

I am deeply grateful for the Orange Hospice team. The staff consistently went above and beyond to provide our whole family with comfort and care when we needed it most. The warm and compassionate environment offered our family much needed support during a difficult time and we will always be grateful for everything they did to help us during this time.