Many times, people find themselves with a little extra free time during the summer, and at Ardent Hospice & Palliative Care, we think that’s the perfect opportunity to better yourself and the lives around you by volunteering. Giving your time to patients and families who are entering a difficult period of their life.
Our volunteers are essential partners in bringing peace, comfort, and happiness to our patients. They’re at the heart of what makes our hospice services so spectacular—that’s why we call our volunteer program the Heart of Ardent. We’re always looking for people who are compassionate, caring, and ardent about helping others to join our volunteer team. If that sounds like you, here are four areas you can volunteer with Ardent this summer (and beyond).
Patient & Family Services
Our patient and family services volunteers spend their time offering companionship to patients. Volunteers just need to be willing to spend quality time with patients. There is no direct care involved in the role; it’s just about helping patients pass their time. Many patients don’t get visits from their family members as much as they would like. That’s where our volunteers step in. They visit patients 2-4 times per month to build that relationship with them, playing a board or card game, reading a book, listening to music, watching a movie together, or even simply having a conversation.
The only requirement for this role is that volunteers must be at least 16 years old. Other than that, we ask that they have an open heart when meeting patients and be ready to connect. It’s the perfect opportunity for people who want a career in the medical or hospice industry, because they’re able to get first-hand experience with patients on a personal level.
Community Services
Our community service volunteers represent our hospice program out in the public. They work closely with our marketing team and go to community events, health fairs, speaking engagements, etc., to share Ardent’s philosophy and vision. The time requirement depends on the calendar of upcoming events, but it’s a great way for people to engage with community members and help our team.
Office Services
If you consider yourself to be a highly organized person, you may be a perfect fit for the role of an office service volunteer. You’ll have minimal supervision but be tasked with basic office work like preparing handouts and admission packets, writing newsletters and thank you notes, answering phone calls, and filing, shredding, and organizing documents. This volunteer position is a great stepping stone for high school or college students looking to get work experience before graduation.
Bereavement Services
Bereavement service volunteers spend time with and assist families after their loved one has passed away. Their role is to offer companionship and offer support to families during their time of grief. We ask that these volunteers be compassionate and able to deal with death and dying, since they will often find themselves in very sensitive situations.
What You Need to Know
If you would like to volunteer with the Heart of Ardent, you can send us an application online. You’ll go through roughly 5 hours of training, including videos and in-person module reviews, before you begin working with patients or our team. You don’t need to have any prior experience or credentials; the training will fully prepare you for your role, and our team is always here to support you if you have any questions.
And if you’re a high school or college student, we can sign off on community service volunteer hours that may be a part of your graduation requirement.
Through volunteering with Ardent Hospice & Palliative Care, you have the chance to impact lives at a time when they most need love and a caring companion. We welcome the chance for you to join our volunteer team and start making a difference. To apply for the Heart of Ardent, click here.
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