How to help

Volunteer in Hospice

Hospice volunteering is a unique, challenging and rewarding experience. The most valuable skill a hospice volunteer can have is compassion.

Offering patients and families a volunteer who can provide care through companionship and respite is very important. Our volunteers are a vital part of the hospice team.

Volunteers, Collette and Jean, helping in the hospice kitchen

Hospice volunteering isn’t for everyone. To see if hospice volunteering may be for you, ask yourself these questions.

1. Can I respect others' lifestyles and cultural differences without being judgmental?

2. Am I willing to help others in the way they want me to help?

3. Am I independent enough to work on my own?

4. Do I have sense of humor that will help me see the funny side of situations as well as sympathize with more painful aspects?

5. Do I work well as a team member?

6. Is my personal life sufficiently stable that I can make a commitment to be there for others?

7. Am I comfortable saying "No" to requests for my time?

8. Can I be assertive about the time I am willing and not willing to devote to volunteering?

9. Am I open enough to continue learning about myself as I learn the volunteer experience?

10. Am I flexible enough to accept others' views of death without being judgmental.