Why I Volunteer - Laurel O.

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VOLUNTEER SERVICES

At Utah Hospice Specialists our volunteers make a real difference, both as valuable members of our support team, but also as caring individuals with a personal touch. Whether your time is limited or your schedule is flexible, we have a variety of volunteer opportunities to meet your needs. Volunteers apply their individual interests and skills in ways that support and nurture the richness and quality of life in a hospice patient's final months, weeks, days.

All volunteers are required to complete a 12 hour training process prior to visiting with patients. Some topics covered are confidentiality, communication skills, psycho-social and spiritual issues, stress management and terminal illness overview. Trainings are held at various times to accommodate differing schedules. Volunteers are generally assigned to a patient within their zip code area, so that they do not have to travel far distances.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us at the following information:

Volunteer Opportunities:

Patient & Family Support Volunteers

Volunteers may be asked to run errands for their patient, help with light housekeeping tasks or meal preparation, provide respite care for the caregiver or most often simply provide companionship such as reading, writing letters, recording their life histories, etc. Visits are usually set up on a weekly basis and with the same patient and/or family.

Memory Keeper

If you are interested in history and love to hearing unique stories this volunteer opportunity is for you. "Memory Keeper" volunteers meet with patients and/or their families collecting pictures and stories compiling them into a hard bound "Memory" book. *Additional training required

"No One Dies Alone" Program

Volunteers who have been specially trained sit at the bedside of an actively dying patient. The volunteer is there to offer a helping hand as well as comfort to the patient and family during the dying process. *Additional training required

Office Support

Volunteers work with Utah Hospice Specialists staff completing tasks such as filing, copying, mailings, etc.

Handy/Yard Person

Assist patients and their families with needs around the home or yard such as installing grab bars in the shower, building a wheelchair ramp, mowing the lawn, etc.