Medical Services
Hospice Volunteer Work
What Is Hospice Volunteering?
The role of a hospice volunteer is to assist terminally ill patients and their families, as well as the hospice staff and the hospice program. Volunteers help relieve patients’ suffering and accompany them in their final stage of life, ensuring dignity and comfort. They also support families who are physically and emotionally exhausted from long-term caregiving, providing compassion and practical assistance.
Additionally, hospice volunteers help reduce the workload of hospice staff, enabling services to be delivered more effectively and efficiently through a variety of supportive activities.
Philosophy of Hospice Volunteering
Voluntariness and Autonomy
- Activities must be carried out solely by one’s own free will.
- No matter how morally right an act may be, it should never be imposed as an obligation by others.
Altruism and Social Responsibility
- Based on respect for life and the value of living harmoniously with others, volunteers must act with awareness of contributing to the well-being of the community and remain faithful to that purpose.
Unpaid and Non-Material Nature
- Volunteers should not expect any material compensation beyond the personal fulfillment and satisfaction that come from service.
- Minimal reimbursement, such as transportation costs, may be allowed but is not a general rule.
Pioneering and Continuity
- A pioneering sense of mission is needed to help build a community where everyone can live with dignity and peace.
- Volunteer work should not be a one-time act, but something practiced consistently and with dedication.
Qualifications for Hospice Volunteers
- Completion of hospice volunteer training
- A sincere and compassionate motivation for service
- No experience of significant bereavement within the past year
Qualities of Hospice Volunteers
- Emotional maturity and stability
- A positive attitude toward life and death
- Active listening skills and openness to others’ values
- Compassionate and loving disposition
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and honor commitments
- Humility, a spirit of sacrifice, and a strong sense of responsibility
- Awareness and acceptance of one’s strengths and weaknesses
- Ability to work cooperatively with people from diverse backgrounds
Hospice Volunteer Activities
| Activity Areas | Description of Activities |
|---|---|
| Physical Care | Providing foot massages, body massages, hair washing, shaving, nail care, and assisting with personal hygiene. |
| Emotional Support | Offering companionship, reading books or letters aloud, taking walks, providing rest time for families, and assisting with therapy programs. |
| Spiritual Care | Participating in prayer, faith counseling, and religious ceremonies. |
| Bereavement Support | Sitting vigil during a patient’s final moments, attending funerals, and making condolence calls. |
| Education | Participating in group meetings, monthly training, case presentations, and educational sessions. |
| Administrative Support for Hospice Activities | Assisting with clerical tasks, organizing materials, and supporting the development and operation of educational programs. |
