Hospice volunteers play a vital role in hospice care organizations.  They’re able to keep patients company when family and friends are not able to be there, help hospice care organizations with their administrative work, and much more.  Volunteers help hospice organizations provide a high level of patient care.

To help you decide if hospice volunteering is for you, here a few of the things that you may do as a hospice care volunteer.

Patient Care Volunteers:

Patient care volunteers spend their days with hospice patients.  Volunteers travel to the place where the patient currently lives; this could be the patient’s home, a nursing home, or a long-term care facility.  Volunteers do not provide any medical or hands-on care.  They simply spend time with the patient, talking with them and keeping them company.  Volunteer also often play the patient’s favorite games with them, like cards or chess.  Volunteers may also talk with patients about current events if that’s something that the patient is interested in.  Some of the other things patient care volunteers do include, but are not limited to:

• Grocery shopping
• Preparing meals for patients
• Helping with simple chores around the house
• Transporting the patient to their doctor’s appointments
• Providing comfort and support
• Helping the patient’s caregiver with their errands and other daily tasks
• Informing hospice staff of the patients’ needs

Patient care volunteers provide a vital service for the hospice patients.  They’re able to give patients someone who will listen to their stories and talk with them.  This type of volunteering is perfect for compassionate, empathetic people who want to help patients who are at the end of their life.

Administrative Volunteers:

Administrative volunteers have just as important a role in a hospice organization as volunteers who work directly with patients. Administrative volunteers do a number of different tasks in the hospice organization’s office.  These tasks include but are not limited to:

• Preparing mailings / leaflets / education packets
• Helping with fundraisers or events
• Answering phone calls
• Setting up and manning booths at community outreach events
• Helping with data entry and other clerical duties
• Assisting with managing volunteers / schedules

If you have previously worked in an office, administrative volunteering would be a good choice for you.  You’ll be able to use the skills you’ve learned in your previous jobs to help our hospice care organization with their day-to-day tasks.  If you haven’t done any administrative work before, don’t worry— we will provide you with training before you begin.  The most important thing is to be enthusiastic and excited about helping!

Music Volunteers:

Many hospice patients love listening to live music.  If you play an instrument, consider becoming a music volunteer.  As a music volunteer, you’ll bring your instrument with you when you’re visiting patients.  You can play some of your favorite songs for the patient, and you can also take some requests from the patient.  Patients will love getting to relax and listen to their own private concert.

Pet Therapy Volunteers:

Animals have many proven benefits for hospice patients.  Cuddling with a pet can lower a patient’s blood pressure, reduce physical pain, and increase levels of overall comfort.  If your pet is calm and good with meeting new people, consider certifying them for our pet therpay volunteering options.

Certified Massage Therapist Volunteers:

If you’re a certified massage therapist, you can volunteer to use your skills in hospice.  We are looking for volunteers who can give patients massages, do reiki, or perform other types of therapy that relaxes patients.

Hospice Volunteers Training:

Before you begin working as a hospice volunteer, you’ll be given training.  The listed training may include but is not limited to:

• A New Team Member Orientation to Service Excellence
• Training on the hospice’s philosophy and mission
• A comprehensive overview of the services the hospice care provides
• Ways to effectively communicate with patients and caregivers
• An overview of patient health and information privacy
• Ways to assist patients and their families with loss and grief
• The best practices for providing support to patients and their loved ones
• A briefing on the emotional, mental, and spiritual issues that arise at the end of a patient’s life
• An overview of appropriate boundaries between volunteers, patients, and families

Your training will vary in length depending on what role you’re taking on.  During the training, you’ll be able to ask any questions you have about working as a hospice volunteer.  You’ll also get to know people who work in the hospice organization.

*** All hospice volunteers are required to go through the same background, drug screening and immunization health checks as our regular employed Team Members.

Benefits of Being a Hospice Volunteer:

Current Team Members say that volunteering with hospice gives them a deeper appreciation for life.  They say that they’re less likely to get upset about small annoyances, like traffic jams or long lines at the store.  Hospice volunteers feel a deep sense of satisfaction at being able to help someone at the end of their life, and they feel like they’ve made a real, significant contribution to their community.  Hospice volunteers also get to make deep connections with patients and their families.

Becoming a Hospice Volunteer:

Hospice Volunteers are truly compassionate people.  They generously give their time to patients who are at the ends of their lives.  They also help hospice organizations run smoothly by completing administrative tasks.  Hospice volunteers play many different roles, and they are an important part of every hospice organization.

We are so excited to share our program with you or answer any questions you may have.

Apply online or reach out if you have further questions.

For more information, please visit our website or contact:

Holly Thompson, Human Resources 
hthompson@bluemountainhospital.org | 541-575-3820

Why Blue Mountain Hospital District & Grant County?

The Blue Mountain Hospital District (BMHD) is located in Grant County, Oregon, at the heart of the John Day River, in beautiful, rural, Eastern Oregon.  Our District is comprised of a Critical Access Hospital (CAH), Family & Rural Medicine Clinic, Home Health and Hospice, Emergency Medical Services, an Intermediate Care Center and all of the supporting ancillary departments necessary to care for the health and wellness of our community.

Our District spans from John Day to Prairie City, nestled in a valley surrounded by the Blue Mountains.  The Strawberry Mountain Range and John Day River Valley offers a variety of outdoor activities, from abundant hiking/mountain biking/horse riding trails, to high and low lakes and ponds.  Our area is known to be a “go to” place not just for recreation, but also for big game hunting and fishing!

Join our family-like team and settle into a lifestyle that is hard to beat!

For more information on our area, visit our Grant County Chamber of Commerce and Discover John Day pages at: https://www.gcoregonlive.com/ and https://www.discoverjohnday.com/