Volunteer Needs From: United Way of Marathon County

A Veteran volunteer is a person who has served or is currently serving in the military, visiting a Veteran on Hospice. Vet to Vet builds comradery that nonmilitary members can't relate to. Some things our Veteran Volunteers have done in the past are presenting veterans with a certificate and pin of gratitude for their service during a recognition ceremony when they come onto hospice care. They assist in planning and attending special activities and events for veterans. Veteran Volunteers also routinely visit Veteran Hospice patients and build relationships with them. As a Veteran, you will have first priority when we have a veteran looking for a companion volunteer. Great for veterans, ROTC, active duty, military family members etc.

Duties (any one activity will be very helpful): -Assisting in special events -Look for new opportunities.

Qualifications: -Positive attitude, organized, and possess a desire to honor our nation's veterans, and a desire to work in a hospice setting with the elderly, and a wide range of individuals.

Here is a link for a video created by Interim with one of our Veteran patients. This video really captivates what a volunteer can do and glimpse into what being a Interim Volunteer looks like.  Making Memories at Every Stage in Life: One Veteran's Hospice Story (youtube.com)

Duties: -Allow patients to express themselves through art or music -Take an active role in sessions by playing, singing, painting, drawing and listening -Encourage clients to take part in the session, and supporting them Benefits: Being able to serve patients by helping them achieve positive changes in mood, relaxation, peace and comfort, anxiety and stress reduction, and memory recall, reminiscence and satisfaction with life.

715-842-7707 ext. 101

Being a hospice volunteer is an intensely rewarding experience.  Volunteers are given the choice as to what types of things you want to do and how much time you want to contribute (usually 1-2 hours per week).  Interim HealthCare believes that volunteers are often the heart of the origination because they give the gift of time to those in need. Volunteers provide support to patients who are near the end of life as well as their family, and caregivers.  Help is provided wherever the patient considers home, which could be their own house, apartment, an assisted living, or skilled nursing facility.  The goal is to help maximize quality of life when quantity of life is limited. There are two types of volunteers, Patient Volunteers and Office Volunteers. 

Patient Volunteers perform some of the following: 

Office Volunteers may also choose to help in the office with mailing, computer work, organizing supplies, and administrative duties.  Some volunteers have special training to help provide grief support.

Volunteers are required to complete an interview and about 9 hours of training.  They also receive ongoing support and training from the hospice care team.  Hospice education covers philosophy of hospice care; services offered by hospice; physical, emotional, social, and spiritual issues encountered at the end of life; effective communication when speaking with patients and family members; comfort care; the dying process; and basic information about grief and loss.  

If you are interested in this opportunity, respond to this post via email or phone call!  

Sometimes hospice can be scary for people, and they want to help but aren't sure how if they don't feel comfortable visiting patients. Becoming an office support volunteer is a perfect avenue. With your help, patients will continue to receive quick, accurate, and reliable service. Office staff are often the "unsung heroes" but not around here! Without help keeping our files in good order, maintaining good communication with doctors and facilities, it would be impossible to provide the high level of patient-centered, family-focused care that we do. We would love to have you join our team and experience the satisfaction of knowing that the ill and vulnerable are having a better day because of you. You have a variety of office duties to choose from: filing; monthly bereavement mailings; copying; organizing resources; sending, receiving and distributing faxes; and special projects.

A phone pal is like a pen pal but instead of writing letters, it's over the phone! A phone pal is someone who is not able to go into a facility or a patient's home but calls them and talks to them over the phone. This person would call the patient and talk with them and be a friendly listening ear to a patient on hospice. While it may not be in person, it still gives an outlet to the patient of a person to talk to, someone to listen, and build comradery with to let them know they are not alone. A friendly caller may also make tuck in calls. Tuck in calls is where a person calls a patient, or facility where a patient lives, to ask if they need any additional supplies before we head into the weekend. Then take note of which person needs what supplies and let the nurse or aide know to bring these supplies at their next visit. 

Respite visit volunteers provide regularly scheduled visits with the patient and/or the patient's family. Offer the gift of time to family members of patients in hospice who face the ever-present challenge of care giving. Hospice respite volunteers offer short-term (1-4 hours) respite care to patients, allowing caregivers to take a break, run errands, nap, etc.

Qualifications: Patience, compassion, flexibility, dependability, and good active listening skills are needed. Volunteers need to be able to establish and maintain boundaries. The volunteer must be able to put the patient's interests first. Being well grounded and possessing good common sense are important.

Time Commitment: Generally, visits are made 1-2 times a month and are 1-4 hours in length. We ask that volunteers commit at least two hours a month.

Location: Patient visits take place in the home of the patient whether it is a private residence, assisted living facility, or nursing home.

Benefits: The benefit of helping others who are not able to repay you is priceless. Complete training is given to volunteers to address all aspects of patient care. The Volunteer Coordinator will attend the first visit with each volunteer and will be available for any questions or concerns. Continuing education in end-of-life issues is available to all volunteers.