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Direct Patient Care (Companionship & Respite)
Direct care volunteers provide social and emotional support, for patients and families. Depending on the comfort level of the volunteer they may also assist with some personal care such as: assisting a patient to the bedside commode, adjusting them in bed, helping them into a wheelchair or into a chair. Direct care volunteers may also assist by providing companionship and entertainment and small household chores. They are on the “front line” of hospice care.
Special Talents Team
Use your talent/professional background to provide our patients with a better quality of life. Maybe you sing, play an instrument, enjoy painting, are a handyman, a hair stylist or ect. We are looking for volunteers to donate their time to go that extra step and assist our patients in their day-to-day needs & happiness. If you have something special to offer please let your Volunteer Coordinator know.
Administrative Support
Administrative support volunteers function in a variety of roles that provide the necessary administrative support for our hospice program. Volunteer positions may vary as the hospice staff identifies specific needs. Assignments may include assembling mailings, calling our patients families, volunteers and tracking data.
Bereavement Support
Volunteers assist the bereavement department with home visits, mailings, or with periodic phone calls to family members to “check-in”, this allows them an opportunity to talk about the their loss and grief process. Volunteers who work in bereavement may also be trained to co-facilitate a five-week grief recovery group. These free of charge groups are available to our hospice family members as well as persons in the local community needing grief assistance.
Special Events
St. Joseph Mercy Hospice participates in several senior and community health fairs. Our volunteers hand out literature and answer questions. We also hold an annual memorial service each year. There are many different opportunities available in preparing for both these including: assembling programs, soliciting donations and picking them up, setting up the reception, ushering, and tearing down. We also have our Annual Ted & Jane’s Children’s Grief Camp which is held two weekends each summer. There are a variety of volunteer roles available.
Hospice Dreams Come True Program
Hospice Dreams Come True is based off of the Make a Wish program model but focuses on our hospice patients. This program is completely supported with community and individual donations. If we learn our patient has a specific joy or dream we do what we can to make that happen, sometimes having to think outside of the box to make it a reality. We are seeking creative volunteers with community connections for donation.
Pet Therapy
- Dogs only; at least 1 year old.
- All dogs must be registered with a national registry that screens and insures the animal. Currently recognized registries are: Therapy Dogs Inc., Therapy Dogs International, Partners of the Delta Society and Bright and Beautiful.
- Proof of complete examination by veterinarian.
- Current on all routine vaccinations as well as any additional immunizations with our partner facilities.
- Free of internal parasites (negative fecal exam within the last 12 months).
- Free of external parasites (Any insecticide treatment must be administered not less than 3 days in advance of a visit to prevent contact with possibly harmful residues.)
- Handlers must be registered St. Joseph Mercy Hospice Volunteers.
Interested in volunteering?!
Contact Jenni Hawes, Hospice Volunteer Coordinator 734-327-3410 hawesj@trinity-health.org
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