Hospice Volunteer Training
Ridge Meadows Hospice Society offers a comprehensive training course for anyone interested in volunteering. We require all volunteers complete our 30-hour training before they begin visiting and supporting patients, their families, and persons who are grieving. After completing the society’s training, volunteers will be given an orientation to Ridge Meadows Hospital and also receive at least 5 “buddy” shifts with an experienced volunteer before you will be asked to visit on your own. We also hold monthly support meetings for all volunteers to attend.
Volunteer Training courses are offered twice a year. One course is offered in the fall and the second course is offered after the New Year, usually late February or early March.
Friends of Hospice
If you are interested in volunteering but don’t feel you are suited to visiting patients or supporting the grieving person, we can still use your talents. We need volunteers who are interested in doing special projects for the Society or in McKenney Creek Hospice residence. To become a Friend of Hospice you will be required to take a brief orientation course.
Please print and complete: Volunteer Application Form
A Personal Inventory for Prospective Hospice Volunteers
Things to Consider When Applying to be a Hospice Volunteer
Volunteer Services are an integral component of the Hospice program. In considering whether Hospice volunteering is a service you want to give at this time, please consider the ideas expressed below.
- You have an interest in the Hospice concept, and have the desire to help others. You have some awareness of what is drawing you to Hospice work, and are willing to explore this in depth.
- You are sensitive to the special needs of dying patients and their families, and have chosen to work to support them.
- You are aware of the losses you have experienced, and your way of grieving, and have a sense of perspective about life and death, loss and grief.
- You are open to others who may have different values, beliefs, ways of living. You are able to listen well, and to validate others where they are, rather than where you might believe they should be.
- As you may be called on to work in a variety of areas and perform many different tasks, self-reliance, flexibility and adaptability are assets. Realistic awareness of your own strengths and weaknesses, and the ability to set limits are important.
- You like working as part of a team, and be willing to explore ways of supporting and being supported by other team members. You are dedicated to your own growth and on-going learning. Your personal strengths will likely include warmth, concern for people, sense of humour, approachability.
- You are willing to commit yourself to the training and to the volunteer responsibilities that follow and to gaining an understanding of the standards and policies of the Hospice program.
- You are not bringing personal agendas or “missions” to your Hospice work, and understand that our work is not to change people, but to be with them where they are.
- If you have experienced a significant personal loss within the past year, one which you are still actively grieving, please consider carefully your present ability to take on a demanding training program. This work can intensify your own grief. We will review each applicant individually in this regard.
- As working at Hospice can be stressful at times, it is important that you have good supports and ways of taking care of yourself, meeting change and the unexpected with ease.