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Volunteers
Hold a hand. Use a computer. Plan a golf tournament. Address envelopes. Feed a pet. Make a speech. Bake a cake. Listen to cherished memories. Pat a shoulder. Give a hug. Touch a heart.
Change a life...maybe your own.
When you become a volunteer for Hand In Hand Hospice, there's a place for you. Whether you choose to work directly with patients and families or to volunteer in any of a hundred other ways, you can make a big difference in someone's life, including your own. You'll discover it's extremely rewarding working with patients and families or behind the scenes to make everything run smoothly.
Volunteer opportunities are as individual as you are and we welcome volunteers from all walks of life.
Choose from opportunities such as:
- Patient and family support
- Office and computer work
- Community information and outreach
- Fund raising....and so much more.
How Volunteers Fit Into The Picture
Volunteers are an integral part of the Hand In Hand Interdisciplinary Team, and their contributions are important. Many times they may have a non-biased point of view about the care plan which may help improve the service. Also, many times patients will be more open to volunteers than to the hospice staff. Volunteers are encouraged to provide the other members of the hospice staff with helpful information and constructive criticism.
Hand In Hand is always looking for caring and giving people to join its team of volunteers. Hand In Hand Hospice currently has more than thirty-five active and dedicated volunteers. Due to the special kind of care hospice provides, volunteers are carefully screened and well trained before assigned to patients.
The following steps illustrate a normal procedure in recruiting volunteers.
Pre-Training Interview
When someone expresses interest in volunteering, the volunteer coordinator conducts an interview by phone or in person. The objective of this meeting is to become acquainted with the person and learn why he or she has chosen to volunteer for hospice. The volunteer coordinator briefs the prospective volunteer about hospice services and the areas in which volunteers can become involved. Volunteers usually complete an application and other documents for review.
Training
Training a volunteer for direct patient care is an ongoing process. The initial training takes approximately ten to twelve hours. The main objective is to assist the volunteer in becoming comfortable with death and dying. Many times the training helps the volunteer work through his or her own personal grief, which is essential in becoming a hospice volunteer. However, volunteers such as pastors or psychologists who already possess special skills relevant to hospice care, or volunteers interested only in office work, may not need as extensive training as others.
Post Interview
Following the training, a volunteer will meet individually with the volunteer coordinator. This visit provides an opportunity to answer any questions that may have surfaced during the training and assess the readiness of the volunteer to be placed with a patient.
Assignment
Depending on overall compatibility, a volunteer will be assigned to a patient. When a patient or family member asks for a volunteer, the volunteer coordinator may arrange a meeting with a patient and family to discover their needs, and then selects a volunteer who will best meet their needs. The volunteer coordinator may accompany the volunteer on the first visit.
1015 Industrial, Suite A
Emporia, Kansas 66801
(800) 334-6215 * (620) 340-6177