VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers help set the tone for the compassionate care our patients and families experience with Houston Hospice. An integral part of the Houston Hospice team, volunteers serve our patients and families with caring expertise in our inpatient unit, in patients' homes and in nursing homes.

General Information

Volunteers are invaluable to the Houston Hospice Program. They contribute their time and talents in two different capacities:

Patient Care Volunteers
Volunteers work with our patients and families in our inpatient unit, in patients' homes and in nursing homes. These include, but are not limited to, sitting with patients, translating, making phone calls and running errands. Volunteers interested in direct patient and family assistance must complete a 25-hour volunteer training course.

Non-Patient Care Volunteers
Volunteers may choose to serve in our indirect non-patient assistance efforts. These services include, but are not limited to the following: assisting office help, participating in fundraising events and representing Houston Hospice at health fairs. Non-patient volunteers may attend an abbreviated volunteer training course.

Training
Twenty-five hour volunteer training sessions for patient care volunteers are held several times each year primarily at our Texas Medical Center site. Training classes are held in the El Campo area as well. A self-study program is available for individuals who cannot attend the scheduled classes. Short training is provided for non-patient care volunteers.

Our training is more extensive than most other hospices in the area because we believe our training prepares volunteers for the challenges of working with dying patients and their families. Topics include listening skills, grief and loss, the medical aspects of end-of-life, as well as the psychosocial and spiritual aspects of care. Hospice volunteers are faced with situations that require a calm caring presence and we believe our training helps develop these skills.