Volunteer services
Hospice Volunteers
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
- Grief support
- Craft gifts for patients
- 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 a 28 hour training program
When is the next hospice training program?
- Hospice training sessions are conducted each March and September
- The 28 hour program is conducted over a 4-day period
- Training is offered on both weekdays and weekends
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
- Funeral home visit
How can I become a hospice volunteer?
Alice Banks, hospice volunteer coordinator
Halifax Regional Hospice
2204 Wilborn Avenue
South Boston, VA 24592
How can I learn more about hospice volunteering?
If you would like to know more about volunteering with Halifax Regional Hospice, call Alice Banks, hospice volunteer coordinator, at (434) 517-3716.
