In-Home Volunteer Program

Job Description

Volunteers work with families to provide practical and emotional support as needed by the client or their family.

Commitment

• Varies. Six months average, 3-4 hours per week with clients and their families

• Regular attendance at monthly educational and support meetings.

• Participation in additional training as your interest and schedule permit.

• Volunteers must be willing to provide agency with standard background and medical information (e.g. fingerprints, TB screening, driving record).

Qualifications

• Emotional maturity, sensitivity, skill in listening, an ability to maintain confidentiality and willingness to provide other appropriate services as needed.

• Successful completion of the In-Home Volunteer Training program. The In-Home Training provides the participant with information on communication skills, specialty programs, supporting individuals and their families facing issues of illness, death and grief, and on increasing quality of life throughout the lifespan.

• Successful in acknowledging and integrating one’s own losses.

• Ability to accept a variety of people and situations and work with a client in a wide range of life circumstances.

Completion of the In-Home Training is also the first step in volunteering with the following Hospice of San Luis Obispo County programs:

• Life Review and Reminiscence, sharing quality time with room-bound skilled nursing facility residents as you assist them in reconnecting with the fullness of their lives.

• Vigil Volunteer Program, providing a compassionate presence for those who are actively dying in hospital or skilled nursing settings and to their loved ones.

• Supportive Music Program, working one on one or in small groups, in our Center or out in the community in conjunction with our Life Review and/or Vigil Volunteer programs. These volunteer musicians help create a calming meditative environment that can aid in relaxation, anxiety relief and pain management. Harp, guitar, flute and Native American flute are especially effective in this work.

• Heart In Hand Program, bringing healing energy and body work such as Reiki and massage therapy to our clients with a terminal or life-threatening illness and to their caregivers. *All Heart In Hand Volunteers must have proof of licensure.

Hospice In-Home Volunteer Training is open to all interested persons and is offered twice annually. This inclusive 24-hour training covers communication skills, hospice history and philosophy, the patient and family as a unit of care, the grief process, symptom and pain management, relaxation techniques, cultural and spiritual issues, and all aspects of the role of the volunteer.

Hospice of SLO Volunteer Training 2012

San Luis Obispo

Mondays 5:30 – 9:00pm
January 23 and 30
February 6, 13, 20 & 27

Paso Robles (North County)

Thursdays 5:30 – 9:00pm
January 19 & 26
February 2,9,16 & 23

Pre-Registration is required.

All prospective participants will receive an Introductory Letter outlining the course expectations and must complete this Introductory Questionnaire and email it to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Click Here to download the Introductory Questionaire

Introductory readings for new 2012 volunteers:

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

If interested, please contact Sonnie Brown @ 805-544-2266 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .