Compassion, Quality, Integrity...
Hospice Volunteers • Registered Nurse

Hospice Volunteers

We are always looking for more people interested in volunteer work.

The National Hospice Organization reports that "of the 115,000 persons involved in hospice care in America, some 95,000 are volunteers and each year they give more than five million hours to helping dying patients and their families." Volunteers are an important part of the hospice team. Many are relatives and friends of former hospice patients who want to contribute to its good work. Hospice experience includes times of joy, peace, and heart warming closeness. Work directly with patients and their families or volunteer in the office. You can make a difference in someone's life. For more information on becoming a volunteer, please call 895-8686 or apply online.

We are committed to be ourselves; to share what we feel will be of value and always live by our motto:

"Not to know, not to cure, not to judge, but to touch, to listen, to love."
-Greg Carlson, Legacy Hospice volunteer

These words describe the commitment that our volunteer program has to our patients. Our dedication to our patients and caregivers is to be a friend and to recognize what is special and unique to each individual. It can be reading a book that a patient wants to read, but is no longer able to hold the book, or, is having problems with eyesight a patient may enjoy a certain kind of music - a group - or a certain singer. Volunteers search high and low to find that certain request. A volunteer found out that her patient loves tacos. So, every so often it is a taco lunch that is enjoyed beyond measure. We are privileged to have a volunteer that bakes cakes for patient's birthdays.

These are a few of the things that we "do", but, of the greatest importance, is what we bring to our patients - a willingness to listen - to put our cares and concerns aside and focus solely on our patients and caregivers.

We are always looking for volunteers - people who are open to sharing themselves with others - who may be looking for a way to "give back." Our volunteers say so often that they find that they get so much more than they give.

Volunteers are not paid - not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless.

Training

Legacy Hospice volunteers are trained in the goals and philosophy of hospice care, as well as the care and comfort of the hospice patient. Volunteer training includes such topics as:

Volunteers agree to a commitment of four hours of service per month to Legacy Hospice.

The needs of our volunteers, patients and our organization are best met when volunteers are well trained and supported.

Training provides volunteers with the best tools to effectively work as part of the hospice team by supporting patients and families facing life-limiting illnesses.

Training also promotes the volunteers own positively enhanced perception of life and death as part of the natural cycle.

Helping the Patients and Families

Legacy Hospice volunteers assist patients and their families in a variety of ways, including:

Helping Behind the Scenes

Legacy Hospice volunteers can also support hospice services behind the scenes by:

Rewards of Being a Volunteer

If you are interested in volunteer opportunities, Call Linda Crawford at 208-895-8686