Volunteers are an integral part of the Seasons Hospice Team, providing compassion and care when it is needed most. The heart and hands of hospice, they provide a special kind of caring to patients, families and staff through helping to make the hospice experience manageable and rewarding.

Men, women and young people of all ages provide assistance on a variety of tasks and skill levels. Many are relatives and friends of former hospice patients, have seen the many ways hospice can help, and wish to contribute to the work of hospice. Volunteers serve in a variety of roles:

Direct Care

Works with staff in providing supportive care and services for Seasons Hospice patients and families. These may include providing companionship for the patient, assisting with household chores, running errands, or providing respite time for the family caregiver.

Indirect Care

Provides supportive, non-patient based assistance at Seasons Hospice and may include outdoor work, housekeeping, baking, or helping with special events.

Bereavement Care

Provides bereavement aftercare services for family members. Assists in promoting healthy accommodation to loss through phone calls, cards, clerical support and assisting in setting up grief support groups. Some volunteers are selected and given specialized training to provide one to one support.

Office Work

Provides support and clerical assistance at Seasons Hospice such as filing, phones, computer entry, and mailings.

Junior Volunteers

Provide a variety of age appropriate tasks at Seasons Hospice House under the guidance of the staff or adult volunteers.

What Do I Need to Become a Hospice Volunteer?

Emotional maturity and sensitivity
Good communication skills
Ability to accept persons as they are
Flexibility and ability to work cooperatively as a team
Personal awareness of end of life transitions and the grieving process

Process and Requirements of Becoming a Volunteer

Interview and completion of:

Required paper work
Volunteer training
Ongoing education requirements
A minimum commitment of four hours monthly

Support for Volunteers

Monthly newsletter
Weekly email updates
Respite activities
Ongoing education

Seasons Hospice Volunteer Training

All volunteers are required to have a basic orientation to hospice and to complete necessary paperwork requirements in order to begin volunteering as an indirect or office volunteer. Those who wish to do direct or basic bereavement care are required to complete a three-day comprehensive training.

Three day training sessions are provided twice annually. Volunteers learn about the hospice mission and family, communication and bereavement skills, physical and spiritual aspects of end of life transitions, complementary therapies, stress management, roles of volunteers and other related issues. Check Upcoming Events on the home page for the next scheduled sessions.

For more information about Volunteer Opportunities, please contact the volunteer coordinator at (507) 285-1930, Ext. 201 or jelkins@seasonshospice.org