Patient Care Volunteer for Hospice

Job Title/Position: Patient Care Volunteer

Supervised by: Volunteer Coordinator

Positions Supervised: N/A

Interrelationships: Patients, family, IDG, and other healthcare team members

JOB SUMMARY:

Serves as a member of the Hospice IDG. Provides respite services to assigned patients and families.

Essential Functions:

1. Serves as a member of the IDG as requested.
2. Provides assigned respite services to patient and/or family.
3. Understands and follow appropriate protocol for death and dying.
4. Provides emotional support and compassionate care to the patient and family unit.
5. Communicates at the appropriate level with each patient and family.
6. Documents services provided to each patient and family.
7. Coordinate efforts with Volunteer Coordinator if not able to provide assigned services.
8. Consult with team members for issues relating to the patient.
9. Assign tasks that volunteer is comfortable with (for example: reiki, Music, Singing,)
10. Assign administrative tasks that are patient related (ex bereavement mailings, patient survey, veteran letters/awards)
11. Direct patient care hours examples: 

including: a. In-home/in-person family time b. Telephone contact c. Art at the bedside for individual patients d. Music at the bedside for individual patients e. Companionship f. Transportation, e.g., doctor visits, shopping, errands g. Respite h. Pet Therapy for individual patients i. Companion vigils (11th hour volunteers) j. Life review and life history 

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Educational/Degree: High school graduate or GED, preferred.
• Training/Licensure: Completes Hospice training program.
• Knowledge/Skills/Ability: Willingness to work as a Hospice team member. Demonstrated knowledge and well-developed communication skills.
• Able to work on a per diem schedule.

Experience:

Previous experience with volunteering, grief and/or bereavement, preferred.