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Hospice Volunteers
Missoula:
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Partners Hospice. Volunteers are a vital part of our team, giving 2-5 hours per week and committing to work for at least one year. Hospice volunteers contribute their time and efforts in many ways:
- Visiting with patients and families
- Providing respite for caregivers
- Running errands or providing transportation (for patients that can still walk on their own)
- Researching and writing grants
- Coordinating special events
- Assisting with fundraisers
- Doing clerical work
- Offering professional skills on a volunteer basis
- Engaging in a patient's favorite activities (playing cards, listening to music, etc.)
- Helping a patient finish a project
- Recording a patient's life story
- Providing emotional support for patients and families
PATIENT CARE VOLUNTEERS provide companionship to patients, respite for caregivers, and assistance with errands and/or other practical needs. They offer a listening ear, an open mind, and a loving heart to the families in their care.
ADMINISTRATIVE VOLUNTEERS provide office and clerical support, do research, staff fundraising and community outreach events, and provide administrative services.
OFFICE VOLUNTEERS work with Partners Hospice staff completing tasks such as filing, answering the phone, bulk mail preparation, data entry, and more.
PROFESSIONAL VOLUNTEERSare people who are willing to share their talents and occupational skill set with patients on an individual basis. We have a special need for massage therapists, musicians, veterans and volunteers with pet companions.
SPECIAL EVENTS VOLUNTEERS offer their own unique services for special events like health fairs.
HANDYPERSON VOLUNTEERS provide services such as lawn care, snow shoveling, walking dogs, etc.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH VOLUNTEERS help educate the public about hospice care and services by staffing our hospice booth at community events, health fairs, church events, festivals, fundraisers, and other special events.
BEREAVEMENT VOLUNTEERS provide social support to those being served by our bereavement program. Bereavement volunteers can also help with our monthly mailings.
VIGIL VOLUNTEERS/END-OF-LIFE DOULAS have completed additional training in the physical and spiritual aspects of dying and are available to provide vigils for patients during the final days and hours of life. 
What qualities are necessary for hospice volunteers?
- Ability to listen
- Ability to learn/humility
- Respect for diversity
- Dependability
- Team-player mentality
- Self-awareness
What is covered in volunteer training?
All hospice volunteers receive 18 hours of education to prepare them to serve effectively. It requires a significant investment on the part of both hospice staff and participants. We strive to create a safe and supportive environment in which the individual and group can engage in an exploration of death and dying. Therefore, applicants are asked to commit to attending all sessions of the training.
The volunteer training program serves to provide information about our hospice program, philosophy, volunteer roles and commitments. The training also serves as a screening process for staff assessment of participants’ suitability and readiness for direct work with hospice patients and their loved ones. We ask those that have lost a very close friend or family member to wait at least a year from the time of death before attending volunteer training.
Following the training, participants who wish to volunteer will set up interviews with the volunteer coordinator to discuss placement. Each individual’s interests, skills, past experiences, and talents are taken into consideration when determining volunteer roles.
How can I become a hospice volunteer?
Partners Hospice offers volunteer training twice a year: once in the Spring and once in the Fall. Individuals interested in attending the training must submit an application. Training is not required for Handyperson or Administrative Volunteers, only those involved in direct patient care. If you are interested in volunteering but the timing isn't good for you, call the volunteer coordinator to discuss possibilities.
For more information or to obtain an application, call Partners Hospice Volunteer Coordinator, Judy White at
327-3657. You can also download an application from the link on this page and send it in.
**********Attention Volunteers******
We are now using the Patient Data Vault as our main vehicle for reporting all volunteer activities, including announcements of upcoming events, direct patient volunteer opportunities, general administrative volunteer opportunities, general announcements, and your new way for reporting your volunteer activities, such as client visit summaries, time and mileage, (the form name to use is Volunteer Notes)
If you want to continue to receive volunteer opportunities and updates, and if you have not done so already, it is important that each of you sign up at www.hospicevolunteersassociation.org as Partners Hospice and Palliative Care Services volunteer.
Forms:
• Volunteer Application
For current Partners In Home Care Volunteers click on the link to log into Healthstream to complete mandatory education requirements. https://www.healthstream.com/hlc/msla
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