Our Volunteers
Direct Care Volunteers
Direct care volunteers are community members who initially receive comprehensive training to educate them in all aspects of end of life processes and in safely caring for terminally ill persons, to help the person and the family throughout this journey. They are offered additional training, often at meetings, and as needed for specific cases.
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Volunteers are supported in all the work they do by the Seward Area Hospice Board, Program Director, Volunteer Coordinator, and with experienced volunteers and resources to help when questions arise. Volunteers must pass a background check prior to beginning care.
Other Volunteer Opportunities
We also have non-direct care volunteer opportunities:
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helping with hospice office work (background check required)
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helping with fundraising events
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donating individual skills as needed (for example: carpentry/repair work, IT skills, painting, or any other skills)
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All our volunteers are invaluable to the running of Seward Area Hospice. If you are interested in joining the team we would love to hear from you.
It is my privilege to help people make their loved one's final wishes come true, to die at home surrounded by family, friends, pets, and possessions that mean so much. Hospice to me is about patients and families having a choice.
Deborah, SAH Volunteer
What can a direct care volunteer do?
Trained Volunteers provide support through:
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companionship when visiting
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caring for children
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preparing simple meals
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doing errands or light housework
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writing letters for the person
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reading to the person or playing board games
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encouraging story-telling or a Life Review
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accompanying the person to medical appointments or social or religious events
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allowing the family time to do errands or to just have a rest break
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other individual needs as appropriate
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Volunteers also:
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provide emotional support
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provide support for spiritual beliefs if desired by the person
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help connect the person to resources available in the community
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support grieving family and friends by attending funerals and memorials or making condolence calls
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remain available for bereavement support to family and friends for up to a year after death of the loved person