Volunteers are an essential element of the Cedar Valley Hospice program of care. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities available to match your schedule and interests. Training is provided. Whether you become involved in patient care, grief support, office assistance, or help in other ways, you will play an important role in the services CVH provides.

Patient/Family Volunteers
Direct care volunteers become very involved with patients and their families. They often become good friends who listen and respond to families’ needs with understanding and empathy. They help maintain a sense of normalcy and quality of life. Tasks may include providing companionship, offering respite care, listening, shopping, running errands, providing transportation, or assisting at the Hospice Home. As a patient/family volunteer, you will have the opportunity to help people during a critical time in their lives. The comfort provided by being there and letting the patient and family know you care is vital.

Direct Care Volunteer Requirements

• Be able to make a one year commitment
• Be able to attend training sessions and in-services
• Be able to donate a minimum of one hour per week
• Be in good physical and emotional health
• Be a sensitive and empathetic person
• Be a good listener
• Be able to maintain confidentiality
• Be comfortable with varied spiritual beliefs and cultural backgrounds
• Have reliable transportation
• Not be in active treatment for cancer or have a family member in treatment
• Not have experienced the death of a family member or loss through divorce or separation within the past year

Eucalyptus Tree Volunteers
The Eucalyptus Tree Program serves children who are ill or are grieving the illness or death of someone close. The Eucalyptus Tree relies on volunteers and staff to help facilitate communication between children and families. Volunteers, dressed as giant koalas, visit with children about illness, death, and grief. Volunteers may also help facilitate grief groups for youth, be puppeteers for educational presentations in elementary schools, or provide one-to-one support for a grieving child. With proper training, anyone who is empathetic and cares for grieving children can help.

Grief Support Volunteers
Grief Support Services provide assistance to people whose loved one has died as they progress through their grief. Volunteers function as sensitive listeners to family members to help them adjust their lives after a loss. They stay in contact through phone calls or home visits and accompany family members to grief support and social events.

Cedar AIDS Support System (CASS) Buddies
Volunteers for CASS play an important role in helping individuals living with HIV/AIDS and their loved ones. Many clients benefit from having a special friend, or Buddy, who can support them as they encounter the challenges often associated with HIV/AIDS. Specially trained CASS Buddies provide practical and emotional support and act as sensitive listeners. Many volunteers also help by providing transportation to and from medical appointments.

Other opportunities
Other volunteer opportunities are available at Cedar Valley Hospice. These include assisting with office duties and mailings, working at fund-raising events, gardening, and serving on various committees.

Contact Cedar Valley Hospice for more information on volunteer opportunities.

Back to Cedar Valley Hospice Homepage