Hospice volunteers offer terminally ill patients and their families comfort, support and companionship.
What Does a Hospice Volunteer Do?
Hospice volunteers can choose to do any number of things, including:
- Visit patients
- Sit with patients while the caregiver takes a break, works in the yard or runs errands
- Provide grief support
- Craft gifts for patients
- Do office work
- Record the story of a patient’s life
- Help patients journal their life and experiences
- Conduct outreach sessions for public education
- Support fundraising efforts
Who Can Volunteer?
Caring individuals age 18 and older, who have:
- Submitted a completed application
- Passed a criminal background check
- Completed hospital orientation
- Passed a TB skin test
- Completed our training program
What is covered in the training?
- History and philosophy of hospice
- Patient/family dynamics
- Communication skills
- Grief and bereavement
- Compassionate stress
- Self-awareness of death and dying, spiritual awareness
- Safety
- Physical aspects of dying
- The role of the volunteer
How Can I Become a Hospice Volunteer?
To downloan an application click here.
To apply online, click here.
Complete and submit the application to:
Coordinator of Volunteer Services
Halifax Regional Health System
2204 Wilborn Ave.
South Boston, VA 24592
If you have questions, please call 434.517.3133.