When you donate your time, skills and energy to Hope, you’re making a huge impact. Volunteering at Hope gives you a unique opportunity to positively affect the lives of patients.
Hope Hospice is a non-profit organization that has been serving the Tri-Valley and adjacent cities in the San Francisco East Bay Area since 1980. We provide compassionate nursing care and companionship to hospice patients, as well as support to their family care partners.
Our organization was founded by a group of local nurses, doctors, and other concerned citizens who volunteered their time for years until we grew to the point where full-time paid staff became necessary. To this day, volunteers remain the heart of Hope.
What Services Does Hope Hospice Provide?
Hope provides medical oversight and supportive care to patients with a terminal condition in their final stage of life. Our team includes doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and others who ensure our clients have every needed resource. We serve our patients wherever they call home; usually, it’s in a house or their apartment in an assisted living community. Some patients reside in a 24/7 skilled nursing facility, and our hospice services complement the care they receive from on-site nurses.
Volunteers Support Our Commitment to Caring
Hope patient care volunteers help patients and their families in many different ways. Whether you’re interacting with patients, escorting a canine companion to visit patients, or helping in the office or special event, all you really need is compassion and a desire to serve. Our volunteers:
Are sensitive to the needs of others.
Have an open and compassionate heart.
Are excellent listeners.
Never judge the beliefs and lifestyles of others.
Have sufficiently resolved any long-term or recent losses.
What Does a Hospice Volunteer Do?
Even the simplest of gestures — reading to or talking with someone — has a meaningful impact. There are many ways for you to contribute your time and talents. A few examples are below. Connect with our Volunteer Services Department to learn more about these opportunities. We’re happy to talk through ways that you can put your talents and abilities to work by serving others in your community.
Companionship Visits
A volunteer can visit once or twice per week to offer a patient companionship and engagement based on personal interests. Examples include reading to them, playing board/card games, watching TV together, writing letters/cards for them, or simply having a conversation.
Caregiver Relief
Sometimes the caregiver needs a break, and Hope can send a volunteer to watch over a patient for up to two hours. (Please see following section titled Services That Volunteers Do Not Provide.) This respite provides the family care partner with time for self care, an appointment, or social gathering. Volunteers can help with light housekeeping such as tidying a room, running a vacuum, or changing bed linens. They can also assist with light errands such as grocery pickup and delivery.
Veteran to Veteran
Patients with prior military service may enjoy a companionship visit from a fellow veteran. Hope also provides a military-themed lap blanket and lapel pin to our veteran patients.
Music Therapy
Musicians/singers can entertain a patient by playing an instrument/singing at the bedside. Another option is to play recorded songs from the patient’s favorite genre.
Pet TherapySpecially trained dogs can visit patients who enjoy the company of a furry friend.
Vigil
In a patient’s final hours, volunteers can provide a quiet, supportive presence at the bedside. They offer family members a break during this sensitive time. They can hold the patient’s hand and offer support in ways that the family desires; for example, some patients want calm music played, prayers recited, or other comforting gestures.
All About Me
Part of Hope’s Living With Dementia program, our All About Me service helps care partners and visitors better connect with patients who have memory loss and/or loss of verbal skills. Through an interview with family members, a volunteer will gather information about the patient’s personal history, likes/dislikes, and care preferences. Our team uses these details to create a poster for display at the bedside, so that these tips and facts are readily available for care providers and visitors.
Bodywork and Healing Therapies
Licensed practitioners in massage, cosmetology, acupuncture, reiki, and healing touch can volunteer their services to hospice patients to help with pain relief or overall wellness.
Art Therapy
Volunteers can bring painting/drawing materials to the bedside to allow for creative expression. If your loved one is not able to participate in art creation, they may enjoy flipping through an art book with a volunteer.
Hands of Love Photography
Hands of Love Photography. Capture a sentimental photo of the patient and family members’ hands holding one another.
Services That Volunteers Do Not Provide
Patients are receiving regular medical care from their hospice team, including nurses and professional home health aides. Volunteers may not assist in these tasks:
Medical/nursing care.
Administer medications.
Answer medical questions.
Professional counseling.
Feed patients.
Personal care such as bathing or toileting.
Regular housekeeping or any heavy cleaning tasks.
Training and Requirements
All Hope volunteers are provided with hospice training and orientation, a process that takes 15–20 hours. We also perform background checks, have health requirements including annual vaccinations, and ensure compliance with HIPAA regulations. Homecare volunteers must be age 18 or older to work independently. Ages 16 and 17 may participate with an adult chaperone present at all times. Event/office volunteers must be age 14 or older. Parental consent is required for those under age 18.
We request a commitment of one to two hours per week. We will work with you to find an assignment near your home or office neighborhoods. Since program readiness involves training and other onboarding tasks before being placed on service, we’ve found that our opportunities may not be best suited to college students who are only in town for summer break or other short-term stays.
If you have any questions about volunteering opportunities or the requirements of our program, contact our volunteer department by email or call (925) 829–8770 on weekdays, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
