Volunteers at

Journeys Hospice

Volunteers are an added support to caregivers and their families, helping them cope. Often, a caregiver or patient may be more comfortable talking about dying with a trained volunteer than with their own family. Volunteers give families and caregivers a much-needed break and the opportunity to take care of themselves so they can remain healthy.

Our volunteers complete an initial orientation and ongoing training. Volunteers can be of any age, with duties that can include the following:

18 years and older: listening to and offering companionship to patients, sitting with them, reading, playing games, doing puzzles, etc. They can comfort a family member or give a family member a break from caregiving so that they may go shopping, out with friends, get their hair done, etc.

17 years and younger: making cookies, brownies, and special occasion cards. They can also help with making packets in our office for special events we attend. Younger volunteers may assist in a patient's home under the supervision of an approved adult volunteer.

Other ways to help can include telephone support, running errands, helping with hospice events, assisting staff with mailings and paperwork, or by contributing through your own special gifts and abilities (see pictures on the left).

Volunteers are assigned according to the needs and requests of the patient and family and are matched with patients within their own communities whenever possible. Most volunteers are assigned to only one patient at a time and remain with that patient and family until no longer needed. Often, the volunteer and patient already know one another through other community activities in their lives.

For more information on how you can help, please call our volunteer coordinator at 208-461-3035 or download a copy of our volunteer application to print out and mail to us.