Be a compassionate hospice volunteer with someone seriously ill in New Albany neighborhoods

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Visit with a patient to provide companionship, relieve loneliness, and share interests. During your visit you will often sit and talk with a seriously ill patient, but your primary role is to provide presence and support. You might play games, cards, or read. Sometimes, you might simply be present and sit in silence with a patient who is too ill to converse.

Respite means giving a short break to the patient’s primary caregiver, usually a close family member or a friend. You might sit with a patient for a couple of hours so their caregiver can get out for much needed self-care or for an appointment. Volunteers have firm boundaries on what you can and can't do. You won't be providing any hands on care, such as feeding or moving a patient and volunteers never handle medications.

TIME
Most patient companion assignments are about one hour weekly or biweekly. You'll be able to choose the time you'd like to visit when you first meet your patient. Evenings and weekends are great times to schedule a visit.

LOCATION
You can visit with a patient in your neighborhood, or wherever you feel called to help. Our patients live across Southern Indiana. We serve patients wherever they call home - in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and in the patient's own home.

TRAINING
After you submit your volunteer application, we'll be in touch to schedule training. We provide a mix of online modules and a concise in person training session, with continuing education throughout the year.

WHAT ELSE
A volunteer manager will work with your visit preferences and provide you with ongoing support.
All costs for training, the background check and TB tests are covered by Hosparus Health.

If you're ready to get started, visit hosparushealth.org, and click on the volunteer tab to apply.