Volunteers: The Heart of Hospice
Volunteers have a vital role in hospice care. With generous love and caring, volunteers provide an added comfort to the care of the dying, a listening ear to the grieving family member, and quality support to the hospice staff.
Hospice volunteers come from all age groups and have a variety of cultural, social and professional backgrounds. The one thing that all volunteers have in common is a desire to help where needed.
When you choose to volunteer, no matter what you do, you will be helping to provide quality care for hospice patients and families. By sharing your time and talents you can change a life.
Is Volunteering for You?
Qualities important for being an effective hospice volunteer include: good communication skills, a nonjudgmental attitude, reliability, flexibility and compassion. Applicants should be in good physical health, emotionally mature and be willing to complete the necessary requirements to become a team member.
Hospice of Oklahoma County and the INTEGRIS Hospice House volunteers are a diverse group such as: full time employees, homemakers, retirees and students. Many volunteers choose to help because it is their way of “giving back” for a kindness experienced within their lives. There are those volunteers who have recognized that they have the gift of compassion, listening, and working with the grieving. These volunteers are interested in exploring new life experiences.