Hospice & Palliative Patient Care
Trained volunteers and staff provide practical and emotional support to hospice patients and their families facing the end of life. HVS volunteers respond to a wide variety of requests for assistance. Volunteers become an important part of the circle of care. Their roles become individualized as needed for each patient. Volunteers can provide:
- Companionship, including visiting, listening, sharing stories, laughing together, crying together, holding a hand, reading, card games, or just sitting quietly and enjoying each other’s company
- Respite for family and caregivers
- Practical help, including meal preparation, light housekeeping, gardening, walking a dog, cleaning a cat box, writing a letter, and many other solutions to needs as determined by the patient, family, caregiver, or Hospice Team
- Patient care, including repositioning in bed, assisting with ambulation, transferring from bed to chair, toileting, dressing, gentle massage, wiping a brow, or moistening lips
- Music, song, poetry or art
- Assistance with errands or shopping
- Transportation to appointments, outings and recreation