VITAS Hospice

VITAS Volunteer Services Mission Statement

VITAS recognizes the importance of a strong and innovative volunteer program. Volunteers are an essential part of the hospice program, allowing VITAS to personalize, enhance and expand services we offer to our patients and families. VITAS actively recruits, trains and supports volunteers and includes their services as part of the plan of care.
VITAS volunteers are as diverse as the patients and families VITAS serves. While some volunteers may best serve as part of an interdisciplinary team, others may work in administrative support; as student interns; providing bereavement or spiritual care, phone support, community education or a specialized service such as massage therapy, cosmetology or pet visits. VITAS respects and values the contributions our volunteers make. VITAS volunteers are motivated and know they make a difference in the lives of terminally ill individuals and their families.

Hospice addresses the needs and opportunities during the last phase of life by including the individual and family, trained volunteers, caregivers and clinical professionals in the caregiving team. This interdisciplinary approach to care focuses on the individual’s physical symptoms and the emotional and spiritual concerns of the patient and family. The team works together to develop a plan of care and to provide services that will enhance the quality of life and provide support for the individual and family while respecting their wishes during the terminal phases of the illness and the bereavement period.

For more than 25 years, VITAS has been a leader in the American hospice movement, helping to define
the standards of care for hospice and working to ensure that terminally ill patients and their families
have ready access to compassionate and effective end-of-life care through Medicare and Medicaid.
VITAS was founded in 1978 as Hospice Care, Inc., one of the nation’s first hospice programs. The
name, VITAS, is derived from the Latin word for lives. It symbolizes the VITAS mission: to preserve
the quality of life for those who have a limited time to live.

VITAS Volunteer Opportunities

Administrative

Administrative volunteers provide support in the office by helping with filing, preparing mailings, computer input, answering the phones and assisting with special projects.

Alternative Care

Trained patient-care volunteers visit patients and families to provide art therapy, aroma therapy and Reiki.

Direct Patient Care

Trained volunteers visit or telephone patients and families at home, in the nursing homes, assisted living facilities or inpatient units.

Interns

Student interns from colleges, universities, technical schools and community organizations often need on-the-job experience to complete their educational requirements. Some examples are students in social work, counseling, chaplaincy, nursing, physician assistants, business schools, massage therapy, community job programs, etc.

Bereavement

Trained bereavement volunteers assist survivors through visits, phone calls, co-leading support groups, creating memorial services and sending bereavement mailings.

E-Buddies

Trained patient-care volunteers will provide friendly support via e-mail to patients and families. 

Feeding Assistant

Trained feeding assistant volunteers assist residents in nursing facilities with eating their meals. They also provide socialization and support.

Groups

Groups may be assigned to complete a special project, do a craft (i.e., lap blankets), make holiday visits to care centers, etc.

Hair Care

Trained patient-care volunteers provide hair cuts, shampoos and styling to VITAS patients and families.  The hair care volunteers must have a current cosmetology license.

Junior Volunteers

These administrative volunteers are under 18 years old and provide support in the VITAS office during school breaks.  Must have a parental release signed by one parent or guardian in their file

See our Volunteer Blog page: www.vitasvolunteers.blogspot.com