Hospice Vigil Volunteer

Volunteers are a valued resource at Hospice & Community Care and serve in many capacities. Our volunteers represent diverse backgrounds and experiences while possessing one common motivation –the desire to help others in their time of need.

 

 

Vigil Volunteers provide an extra level of care to our patients and families by offering assistance during the special transitional time between life and death.

 

 

The Vigil Care Team is a specially-trained group of volunteers who offer the flexibility to respond to patient and family needs during the final days and hours of life. These volunteers understand the need for some families to have a calming presence ─ a part of the Hospice & Community Care team ─ at their side to provide understanding, non-compassion and support at such a difficult time.

Vigil Care Volunteers May:

• hold a hand,
• sooth a fevered brow,
• provide emotional support to the patient or caregiver,
• pray or share readings as appropriate to individual/family needs,
• make phone calls on the family’s behalf,
• heat and serve a simple meal,
• listen to important conversations of a dying person,
• sing a song,
• or any number of things that would comfort the patient. 

In fact, a Vigil Volunteer may not “do” but, more importantly, be a peaceful presence in the midst of an emotionally difficult time.

How Does Vigil Care Work?

The Vigil Volunteer might be a patient's regularly assigned volunteer who desires to extend their scheduled volunteer care to include additional comfort during the final stage of life. Other Vigil Volunteers offer to be available on a pre-scheduled day and are a call away from being where they are needed within a brief timespan. Another way volunteers offer Vigil time is by offering to be a backup person who wishes to be called to any vigil need and responds as their schedule allows.

What Kind of Training is Involved?

Vigil Care Team meetings are scheduled monthly. Anyone who has completed regular Hospice & Community Care volunteer training and has current TB shots can begin attending these monthly meetings which include discussion of vigil experiences, in service training and scheduling. A core training module is offered in written form and volunteers are encouraged to attend meetings for continued education. Educational topics include: physical changes at end-of-life, near death awareness, volunteer self care and grief support, boundary setting, and published articles/books on end of life care. Vigil team members can sometimes accompany a continuous care R.N. or another Vigil Volunteer to gain field experience. Vigil Volunteers will be provided with the resources they need to support our patients, families and themselves.

If you are interested in becoming a Hospice vigil volunteer, call us at 803-329-1500 or e-mail info@hospicecommunitycare.org.