Want to Become a Volunteer?
Hospice of Northwest Ohio volunteers make a positive difference in the lives of the patients and families they serve and are greatly appreciated by the Hospice staff as well. If you are thinking about becoming a volunteer, here are some things to consider:
Volunteers make a “priceless” contribution
Each year volunteers provide thousands of hours of service for our patients. The value of this is thousands of dollars, but is “priceless” in the eyes of those we serve.
In addition, as a Medicare-certified hospice, we are mandated to include volunteers as an important part of our organization. We are required to have at least 5% of our patient services hours provided by volunteers.
Training Builds Confidence
Every volunteer receives training prior to joining the Hospice of Northwest Ohio team. Topics include:
- Understanding the Hospice philosophy of care
- Knowing the boundaries when interacting with patients and families
- Communicating with patients and families
- Understanding basic health and safety precautions
- Understanding patient confidentiality
- Understanding the services provided by Hospice of Northwest Ohio
Additional training is provided for those volunteers who choose to provide more specialized services.
The Benefit of Becoming a Hospice Volunteer
While our volunteers make a tremendous impact on the lives of our patients, families and staff, we hear time and again that they, too, benefit from their hospice experiences. Among the things they mention are:
- Increased appreciation for life and what is really important
- Greater knowledge and more inner peace about the end-of-life experience
- Greater insight about diversity and the different perspectives among cultures
- Heightened sense of fulfillment and pride because of their contributions to the Hospice of Northwest Ohio mission
Getting Started as a Volunteer
Volunteer training classes are held numerous times a year. Those interested in learning more about the many volunteer opportunities available should contact the Volunteer Department at 419-931-5534 or jtucholski@hospicenwo.org.
Complete our online application to become a volunteer.