Hospice Volunteer

Job Summary

Provides physical, psycho-social, and spiritual support to the Hospice client and family, in conjunction with the Hospice team.

Education/Experience/Skills/Qualifications

Certificate of volunteer training or willingness to be trained. Reside in the hospice service area.

Special Requirements

Demonstrates the following skills: interpersonal communication, a healthy adjustment to personal illness/loss/death, ability to unconditionally accept people as they are, and ability to serve as an active team member.

Demonstrates the following qualities: positive approach to life, maturity, empathy, flexibility, sense of humor, a willingness to help others, and agreement with e hospice philosophy. Current Pennsylvinia driver's license and care insurance if you drive automobile for volunteering with patients. Ability to read maps. Reliable transportation. Ability to operate required equipment. Ability to perform proper body mechanics.

Physical Requirements

Ability to: sit/stationary standing (for prolonged periods of time), reach (extension and overhead), push/pull up to 50 lbs, ability to be mobile (in office, from office or home, from site to site), twist/turn/pivot, grasp, lift/carry up to 50 lbs., and speak in an understandable voice with sufficient volume to be heard in normal conversational distance, on the telephone, or addressing groups.

Mental Requirements

Acuity to collect and interpret data, reason, establish facts, make valid judgments and decisions, evaluate, define problems, draw valid conclusions.

Sensory requirements

Ability to: talk and hear (in person/on the telephone), vision (for close work/to read printed materials/long distance).

Associated Environmental Factors

Possible exposure to fumes, dust, blood and other body fluids, chemicals/cleansers, smoke (cigarette/cigar/pipe) smells and household pets.

Supervision Responsibilities

None

RESPONSIBILITIES

Administrative:

• Visit patients/loved ones at home, in the hospital, or in a nursing facility to offer conversation, respite and assistance according to schedule and/or as needed.

• Provides companionship in accordance with the needs of the client and family.

• Performs selected tasks i.e., letter writing, homemaking chores (light cooking, housekeeping, laundry) as requested.

• Provides respite care for brief periods of time as requested.

• Continues support of the family during bereavement period via telephone, home visits, written correspondence, or facilitation of peer support group.

• Submits service hours on appropriate forms.

• Indicates essential functions of this position.

Corporate:

• Complies with all State and Federal hospice regulations.

• Assumes personal responsibility of keeping informed of current changes and trends affecting one's personal field.

• Completes assignments as directed.

• Maintains strict confidentiality in dealing with patient, family, and agency information.

• Maintains a neat, appropriate, and professional appearance: wears name/I.D. badge.

• Attends in-services and meetings as required.

• Performs other duties as directed.

Please note this is not an exhaustive listing and may be supplemented, as necessary.