Volunteers are used for patient companionship. Sometimes this will be visiting, reading, or just sharing radio and television time. Sometimes our volunteers spend time with patients to give their caregivers a much-needed break, or time that they need for errands such as grocery-shopping or medicine pick-ups.

Volunteer time is not limited to direct patient care. There are some volunteers who work in the Hospice office and some who just work for special events and activities. Our memorial services are held twice a year, in the spring and at Christmas, for the families who have recently lost loved ones. Volunteers also help with phone calls, set-up and clean up for these events, besides participating in them. Some volunteers are active participants in our grief support groups, designed to help families and caregivers deal with the loss of a loved one.

Our volunteers are given ongoing training and supervision to help them in doing their jobs. They are given interviews and background checks before they are assigned to patients. An annual tuberculosis skin test is required of our volunteers, also. This requirement is mandated by the state of Arkansas.

There are many ways to help Hospice Home Care patients and caregivers. We would love to put you to work wherever you feel most comfortable. The extras that our volunteers can provide just by being there really do make a difference to our patients and caregivers.

For information on becoming a Hospice Home Care volunteer, please email us or contact one of our local offices and ask to talk with the volunteer coordinator.