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What is hospice?
"Hospice exists neither to hasten nor postpone death. Rather, hospice exists to affirm life by providing support and care of those in the last phases of incurable disease so that they can live as fully and comfortably as possible." - Author Unknown
Mount Carmel Hospice emphasizes dignity, respect, and compassionate support for patients and their loved ones as they navigate through this challenging time.
- Hospice is a type of care that focuses on providing comfort and support to people who are terminally ill.
- Hospice aims to improve quality of life by providing symptom and pain management while also addressing emotional, social, psychological, and spiritual needs of the patient and family.
- Care is delivered by our dedicated team of health care professionals and hospice volunteers in various settings, including the patient's home, nursing home, or hospitals.
- Hospice ensures that patients can spend their remaining time in a comfortable and familiar environment.
Why volunteer for hospice?
"I truly enjoyed my experience volunteering with hospice. I made a connection with her and felt very grateful when my patient one day told me she ‘looked forward to my visits every week.’ This was a truly rewarding experience that heightened my passion for medicine and patient care as I learned how small things can make a difference.”– Aastha G.
Hospice volunteering is a deeply meaningful way to make a significant impact on the lives of those affected by terminal illness. By volunteering your time and compassion, you provide valuable support and companionship as well as creating meaningful connections. Your presence helps alleviate feelings of isolation and fear that often accompany the end-of-life journey.
Volunteering teaches essential skills such as active listening, empathy, and effective communication. Your presence and kindness can make a lasting difference to those facing life's most challenging moments. Hospice Volunteers bring a sense of normalcy back to the patients’ lives as you do day to day activities with them. The care you provide helps foster personal growth and is very rewarding, as you witness the strength and dignity of patients and their loved ones.
What does a hospice volunteer do?
"Sometimes we played jigsaw puzzles, sometimes we shared stories and laughs and other times we sat in silent understanding as I held their hand. My patients taught me the power of being present and a deeper appreciation for life. A lesson for which I am forever grateful.” – Elizabeth M.
Responsibilities of a hospice volunteer can include:
- Providing Companionship: Spend quality time with patients, offering a comforting presence and listening ear to help reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.
- Offering Emotional Support: Be a source of empathy and understanding for both patients and their families, helping them navigate emotional and spiritual challenges.
- Assisting with Daily Activities: Help with non-medical tasks such as light housekeeping, meal preparation, and running errands, easing the burden on patients and their caregivers.
- Engaging in Activities: Participate in activities that bring joy and comfort to patients, such as reading, playing music, or engaging in hobbies they enjoy.
- Providing Respite for Caregivers: Offer temporary relief to primary caregivers, allowing them time to rest and recharge while knowing their loved one is in caring hands.
- Supporting Bereavement Services: Assist in bereavement support for families, helping them cope with their loss and providing a compassionate presence during their grieving process.
*See FAQs for information about specialized volunteer opportunities.
Volunteer Requirements
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Be willing to commit to a minimum of one year to the volunteer program.
- Be willing to commute to visit patients.
- Have a driver’s license and reliable, insured means of transportation if they are driving to visit patients.
Become a hospice volunteer & join our team!
Volunteers are an essential part of our hospice team.
1. Please complete the inquiry form below to express interest and learn more. Our Volunteer Coordinator will contact you, answer any questions and explain next steps in the application process.
2. Complete an application, interview and onboarding paperwork.
4. Complete an online background check and a Criminal Background Check.
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The state of Ohio law requires all health care workers (and volunteers) to complete a fingerprint-based criminal history check.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hospice is not a place, but a type of service provided to patients wherever they are located. So the location of hospice is the patient’s residence which could be a home, assisted living facility, nursing home, hospital, etc.
There is no strict hourly requirement for volunteers; however, we do ask that volunteers commit to visiting at least two times per month. The length of each patient visit may vary and is determined by the individual needs of the patient and caregiver.
Volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of one year with our program. We understand that individual circumstances may vary, and exceptions can be made when appropriate. Questions or concerns about the expected length of service can be addressed during the onboarding or interview process.
Yes! We schedule patient visits based on your timeline! For example, some volunteers do patient visits every Sunday morning while others do a different day each week due to a varying work/school schedule. Just give us at least a 48-hour heads up to schedule it.
Yes! The volunteer coordinator/director of hospice would be more than happy to write one for you. However, we ask that the volunteer be active with us for at least six months so we could truly get to know them and advocate on their behalf.
Here is a list of the different types of volunteering opportunities available at our hospice:
- Direct patient care volunteers provide companionship visits to patients in their homes and nursing homes or hospitals where they socialize with the patients and provide respite for the family. These interactions may include talking to the patient, recording a video or creating a scrapbook as a parting gift for their loved ones, play music or read, or simply hold their hand as they breathe their last breath.
- Spiritual care volunteers in addition to companionship visits also engage in spiritual care for the patients. They may listen to a patient’s spiritual needs, pray and/or read religious texts with them upon patient/ caregiver request.
- Administrative volunteers will do family reach out such as satisfaction phone calls, assist with preparing mailings or cards, and assist medical records clerk with patient teaching materials. They can also volunteer remotely.
- Bereavement volunteers assist the Bereavement Coordinator with comforting grieving families whose loved ones have recently died. Duties may include assisting a support group facilitator at Bereavement groups and visiting families or preparing bereavement mailings.
- Veteran volunteers require a bit more training than regular volunteers and they provide companionship specifically to veteran patients. As a member or former member of the United States Armed Forces, you can serve as a Forever Free Veteran Volunteer providing a unique form of support and companionship to our patients who are veterans.
- Special project volunteers share time, energy and personal talents to help hospice patients and their families complete quality-of-life projects like decorating a small artificial tree for the holidays or assembling donated flowers to be delivered by hospice colleagues.
- Special events volunteers assist with fundraisers, colleague meetings, donor events, holiday events and any other large hospice events.
Interested in volunteering?
Please complete the form below and a member of our team will contact you.
Thank you for your interest in becoming a Mount Carmel Hospice volunteer. Each of our volunteers help us realize the mission, vision, and values of Mount Carmel Hospice. Volunteers make an impact each day by providing invaluable services to our patients. If you are interested in helping serve our patients, pursuing personal growth, continuing a lifetime of learning, or returning a kindness shown to you while you were a patient, Mount Carmel Hospice has a unique variety of volunteer opportunities to match your interests.