• Contacts
• Location
• Referral Process
• Services
  • Bethany House
  • Bereavement Services
  • Children's Breavement Services
  • Volunteer Service Program
• Home

Volunteers in hospice find it personally gratifying, intellectually stimulating, and emotionally meaningful to assist those in need at a critical point in their lives. Many of these volunteers were introduced to hospice through the death of a family member and understand firsthand the value of hospice care, but some volunteers are new to hospice. Volunteers consistently report that helping the terminally ill through hospice is not about dying but about living.

• Support for patients. This can include visiting, reading, taking walks, writing letters, and helping patients complete a video legacy.
• Respite and support for family members. Volunteers can assist with shopping or household maintenance, or allow family caregivers the opportunity to take care of necessary errands and get some time away from the house. Family members also appreciate a visit from a compassionate friend who understands what they are going through.
• Bereavement support programs. Hospice volunteers can work closely with the hospice’s professional bereavement staff in duties that range from assisting in a memorial service and helping with Camp Good Grief to helping with mailings.
• Administrative work. A volunteer with clerical skills can serve a hospice by helping in the office with simple administrative duties.
• Bethany House was the first free-standing hospice facility in the state. In this home-like setting patients and families are welcomed with open arms, to enjoy the precious time they have. Flexible volunteers that are willing to do a variety of tasks are needed. Volunteers willing to give time to provide compassionate support; reading, holding a hand, sitting quietly, listening, helping with life review, or sitting with a patient while their caregiver takes a much needed break.
• Administrative duties at Bethany House--such as helping answer the phones and welcoming visitors at the reception desk is also needed.

To ensure that all volunteers are equipped for the challenge of working with the dying and their families, Hospice of East Alabama Medical Center requires that volunteers complete 16 hours of training which includes a detailed orientation, it is important that volunteers understand the history of hospice. Volunteers will also be required to submit to a routine background check. Depending on area of service, additional training may be available or necessary.