VITAS hospice volunteers are as diverse as the patients they serve, covering all ages, nationalities, ethnic backgrounds and lifestyles. Some volunteers are retired; others are working professionals or students. We even have volunteers who are homebound.

We have volunteers who are moving through their own grief process. Having benefited from the assistance, support and companionship of VITAS, they decided that becoming a volunteer is an appropriate way to honor their loved one. We even have four-footed, fur-coated volunteers from VITAS' Paw Pals Program.

Whatever their strengths or interests, hospice volunteers find unique ways to make patients’ eyes light up. They may:

• Listen as a patient shares memories, feelings, fears
• Fill in to give a family caregiver a short, needed respite
• Call patients and families to offer reassurance and comfort
• Provide administrative support in the VITAS offices
• Run errands, performing light housekeeping chores
• Visit lonely patients in nursing homes
• Take a patient on an outing

Join Us!
VITAS Illinois is looking for eye-lighter-uppers—people with caring hearts and the desire to make a difference. If you bring us those qualities, we will train you to be part of one of our interdisciplinary teams. I can promise that as a VITAS volunteer you will change lives—beginning with your own.

Sign up to become a VITAS volunteer today.