Make a Meaningful Connection as a Volunteer

Administrative Volunteers perform a variety of general office and clerical tasks which help our agency operate smoothly. Activities may include:

• Assisting with mailings
• Assembling printed materials for patients and families
• Assembling materials for supply room
• Serving as front desk receptionist to direct guests and receive packages
• Special projects throughout the year

Patient care volunteers offer essential practical and emotional support to hospice patients and their loved ones. We provide comprehensive training to ensure confidence in one's ability.

Activities may include:

• Companionship: Engage in activities, conversation and emotional support for patients and/or caregivers.
• Errands/shopping: Pick up groceries or other supplies, etc.
• Respite: Support caregivers by providing up to four hours of patient companionship, allowing for a rest break from direct care of their loved ones in their homes.
• Life legacy: Facilitate conversations and support patients in recording their life stories.
• Light household tasks and yardwork: Straighten and tidy up, vacuum, dust, load and unload the dishwasher and/or laundry, lawncare, gardening, etc.
• Light meal preparation: Put together food items, lay out a meal, heat food, etc.
• Music: Provide non-therapeutic music for patient enjoyment.
• Transportation: Take patients on local outings such as parks, shopping areas, etc., or to and from appointments. Please note, volunteers do not accompany patients into their appointments.
• Vigil: Offer a peaceful presence at the bedside of patients who are within the last 48 hours of life.

Virtual or remote opportunities are available depending upon the needs of those we serve.

Haircut volunteers travel to wherever a hospice patient calls home – whether it is a private home, skilled nursing facility, etc. – to provide free haircuts with simple styling. Your visits can increase comfort, self-esteem, and dignity, especially when a patient is no longer able to leave their home.

Volunteers must be professionally licensed in the state of Washington to cut hair. We provide comprehensive training to ensure confidence in working with hospice patients.

You set your own schedule. Even one haircut a month makes a difference!

Notary volunteers travel to wherever a patient calls home – whether it is a private home, skilled nursing facility, etc. – to provide an extremely important service for patients who are homebound and/or have limited financial resources.

Notary volunteers help ensure that the patient’s wishes are honored by notarizing health care-related documents such as:

• Medical power of attorney
• Financial power of attorney
• Wills

Volunteers must be licensed Notary Public in the state of Washington.

You set your own schedule. Even providing services once a week or twice a month makes a difference!

Pet therapy is a visit or series of visits from a pet therapy team, a handler and their animal. Patients or their loved ones can request these visits through their hospice care team.

The simple act of petting an animal can trigger the release of beneficial hormones that enhance mood and overall well-being.

These visits are intended to:

• Alleviate stress and feelings of isolation
• Provide opportunities for reminiscing and sharing stories about their own pets

Pet therapy teams must be certified through an accepted organization. If you aren’t already certified, we’re happy to provide information on the process!

To ensure veterans receive the service and care they deserve, Providence partners with the nationally recognized We Honor Veterans program.

Volunteers are needed to offer veteran-to-veteran companionship and participate in honoring ceremonies.

How can you help?

• Engage in conversation, watch TV, play cards.
• Because of your military bond, other veterans may feel safer sharing certain stories with you. Use this opportunity to listen to stories that they may have never told anyone before.
• Take part in a ceremony to honor a fellow veteran and their family. No uniform required.

We Honor Veterans is a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Vigil volunteers spend time with a hospice patient who is within 48 hours of death to provide comfort, dignity and a peaceful presence. This time may include reading, music or simply sitting with the patient.

• Where: Vigils are provided at the bedside wherever the patient resides, including at home, in a facility or a hospital.
• When: While vigil visits are scheduled as needed, they often occur at night.

Volunteers receive specialized training about providing compassionate support to patients and families as death approaches.

Hospice provides grief support to people who have experienced the death of a significant person. Volunteers offer essential practical and emotional support to those navigating their grief. In-person and virtual opportunities are available.

Activities may include:

• Administrative tasks like clerical work or event organizational support
• Direct work with support groups, memorial events, or phone calls to bereaved

No licensure is required.

Our handicraft program provides the opportunity for volunteers to craft items which provide comfort and improve the quality of life for hospice patients, families and the bereaved.

Activities may include:

• Crocheting
• Knitting
• Quilting
• Sewing
• Woodworking

Patterns and guidelines are available for all items.

Contact us to discuss contributing your handicraft skills and get more information.