Volunteer - Hospice

Tomah Health•Tomah, WI

10d

About The Position

Tomah Health Hospice Touch seeks compassionate volunteers to provide companionship and support to hospice patients in their homes, at the hospital, or at Serenity House. Volunteers are members of the Hospice Team and supplement professional caregivers. Direct-care volunteers may provide patient and family companionship, emotional support, approved personal care, recreational and social activities, and assigned supportive services. Indirect-care volunteers support the hospice program without direct patient contact through office assistance, fundraising, special events, landscaping, and other activities. Volunteers may also assist with bereavement support, committees, and community programs. This is a volunteer position and is not benefited.

Requirements

Ability to read and write.
Successful completion of hospice volunteer training or agreement to complete it.
Meet Hospice health screenings and criteria.
Excellent human-relations skills and ability to interact positively with all customers.
Ability to work with frequent interruptions and minimal supervision.
High level of integrity, sense of responsibility, and ability to comprehend details.
Good record-keeping, telephone, and organizational skills.
Comfort serving as a volunteer and patient advocate.
Good hearing to receive detailed information through oral communication.
Ability to function effectively under stressful situations.
Home-care hospice assignments may require a valid Wisconsin driver’s license.

Responsibilities

Provide emotional support to patients and families through companionship, visits, and active listening.
Obtain verbal and written reports for each assignment.
Listen with an accepting, nonjudgmental attitude; support patients and families without offering advice or attempting to solve their problems.
Provide personal care only when adequately trained, competency has been demonstrated, and the task is assigned.
Ask questions and seek clarification about assignments as needed.
Follow safety practices to protect patients and volunteers, including not administering medication, not leaving patients unattended, not lifting patients without assistance, handwashing, and using gloves when appropriate.
Help identify and support patients’ recreational and social interests and participation.
Provide assigned support services such as errands, transportation, shopping, or house cleaning.
Report concerns, complaints, injuries, safety issues, and inability to attend assignments promptly to the appropriate hospice contact; document complaints as required.
Contact the Volunteer Coordinator before making extra or unscheduled visits, or the RN on-call on weekends.
Assist with clerical and office duties, including answering phones, mailings, research, and statistics.
Participate in special projects and events, including fundraisers, memorial services, and community programs.
Maintain appropriate boundaries, visit only when scheduled or assigned for bereavement follow-up, and neither share personal phone numbers nor give or accept gifts from patients and families.
Complete required hospice orientation, confidentiality, body mechanics, infection-control, and task-specific training.
Attend volunteer meetings and educational offerings.
Maintain confidentiality regarding clients, families, health care personnel, and the agency.
Record activities and time spent as directed.
Report concerns about assignments to the Volunteer Coordinator or Hospice Social Worker and work cooperatively with the hospice team.
Pursue self-development, manage stress and change, use effective listening and communication skills, and seek support when needed.