United States Department of Veterans Affairs
United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Portland VA Medical Center

Voluntary Service - Hospice Program

Globe

The Nursing Skilled Care Unit on the Vancouver Campus is a 72-bed transitional care unit that provides short-term skilled nursing care and rehabilitation to patients who need subspecialty care, close medical monitoring and rehabilitation services. Out of the 72-bed transitional care unit, 16 are designated for Hospice/Palliative care.


" Volunteers are an essential component of all hospice care; in fact, Medicare-certified hospices must use volunteers. Hospices tend to rely on volunteers for more intensive one-on-one contacts with patients and families than is typical for other VA volunteer services. As hospice care grows within VA and as community hospices increase their effort to respond to the needs of veterans, the demand for the presence of volunteers is certain to grow". -DVA Hospice and Palliative care report.


Hospice/Palliative volunteers serve and are needed in the following areas:

  • 1:1 Socialization

    • Being a good listener

    • Sitting quietly with patient

    • Having conversations with patients

    • Reading to the patient
       

  • Legacy Projects

    • Video taping

    • Writing letters to family members

    • Making diaries/Scrapbook

    • Assisting patients with life story writing
       

  • Leisure Activity Participation

    • Taking walks

    • Playing games

    • Gardening

    • Crafts

    • Baking bread/cooking

    • Other activities of interest to patient



Qualifications to become a Hospice/Palliative care Volunteer:

  • VA Volunteer application completion to include an electronic fingerprint background check, TB test, interview and orientation.

  • The Twilight Brigade: Compassion in Action" training or other Hospice Care training as requested.

  • Hospice unit orientation/interview

  • Attend Hospice team meetings as assigned

  • Ability to take suggestions from the Hospice team members

  • Good communication skills, listening skills, friendly, courteous, respectful

  • Ability to leave personal issues at home

  • Ability to maintain confidentiality at all times

  • Ability to commit a minimum of one year to program


Expectations

  • Volunteers will not project personal beliefs on patients. Religions/Spiritual concerns are the domain of the Chaplains service.

  • Volunteers may not accept or give gifts to patients.

  • Volunteers are not expected to perform nursing care such as: positioning patients in their beds, feed, administer medications, changing soiled clothing, etc.


If you are interesting in becoming a Hospice volunteer, please contact Voluntary Service - Vancouver Division.