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.
Some of our volunteers 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. VITAS volunteers provide services such as:
- Friendly companionship for patients
- Respite care to give a family caregiver a much-needed break
- Transportation to appointments
- Pick-up and delivery of medications
- Accompanying a patient to a church function, beauty shop, grocery store, wedding, etc.
- Calling families to see if they need anything, or just to listen
- Pet care, including taking the patient’s pet for a walk or to the vet
All VITAS volunteers go through a training program that focuses on what terminally ill patients and their families may experience and teaches volunteers how to provide care as part of a hospice team. Trained volunteers commit at least one to four hours a week to providing VITAS volunteer services. Learn more about Texas volunteer opportunities in:
Dallas
Fort Worth
Houston
San Antonio
Sign up to become a VITAS volunteer today!