Volunteers
Make a Difference at the End of Life
Volunteers are the heart of hospice care. At Angel Hands Hospice, we believe in the power of presence. Our trained volunteers offer companionship and comfort to patients and their families during one of the most sacred transitions in life.
Please note: Volunteers never provide hands-on medical or personal care such as bathing, lifting, administering medications, or wound care. Their role is to enhance quality of life through companionship. Volunteers are asked to respect each patient’s cultural and spiritual beliefs without leading faith-based interactions.
Why Volunteer With Us?
Hospice volunteering is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in someone’s life. Whether you’re sitting quietly with a patient, reading their favorite book, or giving their caregiver a short break, your presence truly matters.
We follow strict guidelines to ensure volunteers do not replace paid staff but instead provide enrichment and companionship that complements clinical care.
Volunteer Roles
We offer a variety of meaningful ways to serve, tailored to your interests and talents:
Patient Companion Volunteer
- Sit bedside and offer quiet presence
- Read books or poetry aloud
- Play calming music or simply listen
- Paint a patient’s nails or style their hair gently (with permission)
- Accompany patients on walks in facilities
- Provide caregiver respite by staying with the patient
Legacy Project Volunteer
- Help patients create a Legacy eBook by assisting in answering questions, helping to find the right photos, and digitally creating the eBook
- Transcribe life reflections into a beautiful digital keepsake for families
- Assist with journaling, letter writing, or memory boxes
- Put together the Legacy E-Book
Administrative & Office Support
- Assist with data entry, mailings, and organizing supplies
- Assemble comfort kits or new volunteer welcome packets
- Create birthday, Valentines Day, and other special holiday or anniversary cards
- Create crafts that patients and families can use as keepsakes
Creative & Specialized Roles
- Share skills like music, art, or guided meditation
- Offer pet therapy (with appropriate certification)
- Support memorial events or bereavement card writing
- Contribute photography, graphic design, or writing to our volunteer newsletter
Is Hospice Volunteering Right for Me?
You don’t need medical experience or special training to serve—just a heart for presence.
You might thrive as a hospice volunteer if you:
Are comfortable with quiet, reflective moments Want to support patients and families with dignity and empathy Can listen without needing to fix, change, or advise Respect all beliefs and traditions Feel called to honor life’s final chapter through service
If this sounds like you, we’d be honored to walk this journey with you.
Volunteer Training & Requirements
We take our training seriously to ensure safety, compassion, and professionalism.
Our training program is different than you’ll see in other hospice and palliative programs because it was created by a death doula, making it doula-led and doula-informed. Our training program has all of the information that we are required to teach you, but it also has additional information that we hope will bring an extra level of compassion and empathy to our patients, while also giving you, the volunteer, the potential to learn new skills.
All volunteers must:
- Complete a free orientation and training (16+ hours designed to be completed at your own pace so you can learn in a way that fits your schedule)
- Pass a background check
- Undergo a tuberculosis screening (for patient-facing roles)
- Be at least 16 years old with a drivers license
- Commit to respectful interaction with patients
Training Includes:
- Hospice philosophy and patient-centered care
- Active listening, empathy, and grief awareness
- Boundaries, cultural sensitivity, and ethics
- HIPAA confidentiality and infection control
- Volunteer role descriptions and expectations
- And more
Ongoing Support and Supervision
Volunteers are never alone. Our Volunteer Coordinator provides:
- One-on-one onboarding
- Check-ins after your visits
- Monthly support calls or groups
- Annual continuing education
No. What matters most is your compassion, communication, dependability, and willingness to be present.
Yes. We offer flexible scheduling and do our best to match you with roles that fit your availability and strengths.
Volunteer visits may take place in patients’ homes, assisted living communities, or nursing facilities. Administrative roles can be completed remotely or in our office depending on tasks.
That’s completely natural. We provide shadowing opportunities, mentorship, and ongoing support every step of the way.
At this time, all volunteers must be at least 16 years old and hold a valid driver’s license.
All volunteers complete more than 16 hours of doula-led training. The program is designed to be self-paced, so you can work through it on your own schedule.
Yes. For the safety of our patients and families, all volunteers must complete a background check before beginning service.
We offer a wide range of opportunities, from patient companionship and legacy projects to office support, event setup, music, photography, reading, and more.
Absolutely. You’ll have ongoing guidance and the opportunity to shadow experienced volunteers before taking on assignments independently.
Next Steps After You Submit
Thank you for completing your Volunteer Application.
Important: Please check your email inbox for a message from Adobe Sign with the subject line:
“Please confirm your signature on Volunteer E-Signature Application.”
Open this email and confirm your email address so that we receive your signed application.
Once your application is confirmed, swhitney@angelhandshospice.com will follow up with you directly regarding next steps. To ensure you don’t miss our message, please add this email address to your contacts.
We are grateful for your interest in serving with Angel Hands Hospice & Palliative Care.