Bonita Springs Healthcare Services
Hospice Volunteer
Volunteers are critical to the success of hospice care, enriching the lives of patients and their loved ones. Drawing from their own talents and interests, volunteers provide a range of supportive services. From administrative duties in a hospice office, to patient companionship, or even complimentary therapies, the caring spirit of a hospice volunteer truly makes a difference.
Watch this video to learn more about our Volunteer Opportunities
We understand your time is valuable and your schedule may already be quite full.
We value your interest in our program and are committed to working with you and your schedule. You can commit as much or as little time as your life and schedule permit. Some volunteer activities such as office projects might involve less than one hour per week. Other activities, such as patient companionship, may involve two or more hours per week.
Volunteer Roles and Training Requirements
Bonita Springs offers a variety of ways to get involved, allowing you to choose a role that matches your strengths, interests and comfort level. Below are just a few options to choose from; please download our Volunteer Application for a more complete listing.
Activities Volunteer for Seniors
- Assists with activities such as bingo or crafts in assisted living facilities
- Sixteen (16) hour volunteer general training
- Three (3) hours site-specific training and completion of volunteer file.
Administrative & Clerical Volunteer
- Provides clerical support in the hospice office
- Four (4) hour basic volunteer training
- Completion of personnel file
Bereavement Volunteer
- Assists Bereavement staff with providing grief support to families of hospice patients
- Sixteen (16) hour volunteer general training
- Four (4) hour position-specific bereavement support training and completion of volunteer file
Long Term Care (LTC) Team Volunteer
- Provides company to hospice patients in long term care residences
- Sixteen (16) hour volunteer general training
- Two (2) hour site-specific training & completion of personnel file
Meal Assistance Volunteer
- Assists patients living in facilities with their meal
- Sixteen (16) hour volunteer general training
- Two (2) hour site-specific training & completion of personnel file
Patient & Family Support Volunteer
- Stays with the patient while the caregiver takes a break from caregiving inside or away from the home
- Sixteen (16) hour volunteer general training
- Four (4) hours comfort care training with shadowing opportunity available & completion of personnel file
Pet Therapy
- Credentialing through an established pet credentialing program
- Pet and owner/handler provide supportive visits to patients and families
- Sixteen (16) hour volunteer general training
- Completion of personnel file
Skilled or Professional Volunteer
- Certification/Licensure requirements may apply
- Provides a professional skill like cosmetology, pet therapy, nursing, massage, manicures, music, media, etc.
- Sixteen (16) hour volunteer general training
- One (1) hour position-specific training and completion of personnel file
Special Projects Volunteer
- Makes gowns, bibs, catheter bag covers, pillows, care bags, wooden memory boxes, blankets, etc.
- One (1) hour training
- Completion of personnel file – requirements vary by project
Spiritual Care Volunteer
- Professional education/credentialing required
- Provides spiritual support to patients and families
- Sixteen (16) hour volunteer general training
- Four (4) hours position-specific training and completion of personnel file
Veteran to Veteran Volunteer
- Visits hospice patients who are veterans & assist staff with thank you presentations
- Eight (8) hour volunteer general training
- Completion of personnel file
Vigil Care Volunteer
- Sits at the bedside of dying patients
- Sixteen (16) hour volunteer general training
- Three (3) hour site-specific training & completion of personnel file
Getting Started
Bonita Springs Healthcare Services is committed to the highest quality of care for patients and families and the highest standards of support and education for our volunteers.
Due to the sensitive nature of end-of-life care, volunteers are carefully selected and trained.
To get started, we ask the following from all of our volunteers:
Complete a Volunteer Application.
Download Volunteer Application Form
Complete personnel requirements, such as:
- Immunization Record – documentation of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) if born in or after 1957
- Tuberculosis Skin Test (two-step) – provided as part of volunteer training (basic screening costs covered by Bonita Springs Healthcare Services)
- Background Check (costs covered by Bonita Springs Healthcare Services)
Attend all training sessions for the type of volunteer work you want to do.
If you have experienced a recent loss, we ask that you wait one year before volunteering in homes with patients and families.