St. John Hospice Volunteer Program

Volunteers help improve the quality of life for patients and families at our Palliative Care

Unit (St. Paul’s Hospital) and our Hospice (St. John Hospice) by providing emotional and

social support.

Volunteer Roles:

• Providing companionship to patients and support and counseling to friends and family

members

• Lending quiet presence to patients at bedside

• Providing Tea/coffee

• Sitting vigil during final hours of life

• Spiritual readings and support

• Caregiver relief

• Bereavement Support

• Therapeutic Touch, aromatherapy or massage

• Assisting with letter writing, scrap booking, reading to the client

• Sharing music or a movie with the client

• Assist with writing life histories

• Accompanying clients to garden areas

• Assist and support staff in their work

• Provide Pet Therapy with a certified Pet Therapy Dog

• Provide Music (ie. harp, piano)

Qualifications:

• An interest in the hospice palliative concept

• An interest to commit substantially to the care of the dying and supporting families that

are grieving imminent loss of a loved one

• Non-judgmental attitude

• Mature, friendly, stable and dependable

• Good listening and communication skills and being comfortable with silence

• Understanding and adherence to the principles of confidentiality.

• Experience with grief and/or significant loss

• Experience visiting with patients or family in a hospital setting.

• Must be 21 years or older

• Last significant loss must be at least 1 year ago or more

• Cleared Criminal Record Check

• Successful completion of the Palliative Care training program (26 hours offered twice a

year)

Time Commitment: Two hours a week for a minimum commitment of one year.

Responsible To: Palliative/Hospice staff and Volunteer Resources of Providence Health

Care

How to become a Palliative/Hospice Volunteer

• Submit a volunteer application to the Coordinator of Volunteers-applications can be

found on our website: www.providencehealthcare.org/volunteers

• Be selected for an interview with the Coordinator of Volunteers

• Provide references and a Cleared Criminal Record Check

• Successfully complete the 26 hour Training Program

• Attend a post interview to determine if it is a good fit for both parties

• Attend two training shifts with an experienced volunteer

Palliative/Hospice Training Program Course:

This is a comprehensive course. It provides training for our Palliative/Hospice Volunteer

Visitors, and is open to anyone who would like to learn more about providing support to

terminally-ill patients and to their families before death and during bereavement.

The course will cover:

• Attitudes about Death and Dying

• Needs of the Dying

• Palliative Care and Pain Management

• Listening and Communication Skills

• Spiritual Care

• Supporting the Family of the Dying Patient

• Care for the Caregiver

• Supporting those who are Grieving

• Multicultural Values

For further information please contact

Tanya Fitzpatrick, Coordinator, Volunteer Resources at 604-806-8509

tfitzpatrick@providencehealth.bc.ca

Now accepting applications for the Spring intake until

February 28th 2014.

Applicants must attend all sessions in order to volunteer in the Palliative Care Unit or Hospice

or have equivalent training

 

Volunteer-1
Volunteer-2
Click Here
Important Notice

You have reached the website for the Vancouver Commandery of the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller www.sosjvancouver.org.

This site has now been integrated into the International Website of the Sovereign Order.  Please visit www.sosjinternational.org/commanderies/vancouver-commandery/ for the most up-to-date information.

Grant Information will be found under Almoner