Become a Volunteer

  • Meet other volunteers, like yourself, who are giving something back to our community.
  • Receive free initial training, on-going support and education from the Hospice team
  • Provide support for patients and families in need
  • Design your own volunteer schedule. Volunteer one hour per year, four hours per week, or anything in between.
Hospice cannot add days to life, but it can add life to every day.

Volunteers who work in hospices throughout the U.S. are an essential part of the hospice philosophy of care which recognizes that dying is not just a medical event but a personal one as well. These volunteers are important members of an interdisciplinary team, working to “deinstitutionalize” the dying experience and provide a more humane system of care for the dying and their families. In fact, federal law requires that at least 5% of patient care hours be provided by volunteers (if the hospice receives Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement).

Volunteers provide important services to the people they serve in our community. Whether it’s providing companionship to a person in the final months of life, offering support to family members and caregivers, or helping with community out-reach and fundraising, the contributions of volunteers are essential to the important work provided by Hospice of South Georgia, Inc.

To ensure that all volunteers are equipped for the challenge of working with the dying, hospices require that volunteers complete an extensive orientation and training session, as well as submit to a routine background check. It is important that volunteers understand the history of hospice and are aware of the specific ways we work to serve the community.

Hospice Volunteer Qualifications:

  • Age 18 or older
  • Emotionally mature
  • Active Listening skills
  • Effective verbal and written communication skills
  • Understanding of commitment to hospice goals, philosophy and service model
  • Has reliable mode of transportation with vehicle liability insurance
  • Good mental health and has available support system
  • Willing to commit to giving three to four hours of service weekly
  • Willing to complete hospice volunteer training and orientation (8-10 hours)
  • Meets initial and annual volunteer health requirements
“Volunteers are not paid, not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless.” -Author Unknown

As a hospice volunteer you will be given the choice as to how much and what types of activities you want to do. Typical duties can include:

  • Listening to a patient’s concerns
  • Being a comforting and supporting presence
  • Engaging in the patient’s hobbies, playing a board game or discussing current events
  • Sharing a special talent or skill
  • Assist with activities of daily living
  • Office and clerical skills
  • Provide child care, if applicable
  • Community Education
  • Provide respite for the caregiver (3-4 hours per week)
  • Perform light housekeeping tasks
  • Cook meals in the patient’s home (or take items in)
  • Make bereavement visits following death (after training)
  • Fundraising activities
  • Serve on a committee.
“People may not remember what you said and they may not remember what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” -Author Unknown

Hospice Helps People Live

All of the professionals of the Hospice team are significant, but the volunteer is one of the most important members of the team. For example, as an unpaid member of the team, the volunteer is in a unique position to receive information from patients and families that they might not share with the paid members of the team. Volunteer assistance is vital to the delivery of hospice care to the patient and loved ones. The help of those volunteers who do office tasks or work on special projects and events is vital to the smooth operation of the administration.

As a volunteer, whether patient care or administrative, you must complete a minimum of 8 hours of training which is designed to help you:

  • Explore your own attitudes about death
  • Learn more about the basic concepts of Hospice care
  • Provide you with an opportunity to discuss physical, psychological, spiritual, social, and economic needs of patient and family
  • Develop your communication and listening skills
  • Give you an opportunity to discuss your feelings and impressions of Hospice services with members of both the professional Hospice staff and other volunteers
“What I do you cannot do but what you do, I cannot do. The needs are great, and none of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful.” -Mother Teresa

For more information about how to become a volunteer, contact:

Hospice of South Georgia, Inc.
1625 Sunset Blvd
Jesup, GA  31545

Telephone: 912-588-0080
Email: information@hospicesoga.org

Download and/or Print Volunteer Documentation
For your convenience, we are providing the following documents in PDF format.
You may view, print and/or download these files as needed.
 Volunteer Application  Volunteer Bill of Rights
 Volunteer Job Description  Volunteer Documentation Sheet