Trained Hospice Volunteers

Seacoast Hospice was founded by volunteers in 1978. Volunteers continue to be the heart of our organization. Volunteers are members of the interdisciplinary team and provide companionship, respite, and support to patients and families.

Together with the support of our many community volunteers, Seacoast Hospice cares for hundreds of patients in their own homes, hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and at the Hyder Family Hospice House. Seacoast Hospice volunteers offer comfort and compassionate care without intrusiveness to any patient or family member who requests a volunteer.

Direct Service Volunteers (patient and family support) are required to complete a 35-hour training program and are members of the Seacoast Hospice team. Additional training is provided for volunteers working with specialized groups, including grief support, and the Hyder Family Hospice House.

Volunteers also provide support in many other ways including administrative work, maintaining our community lending libraries, working on our grounds, speaking to the public about our services, serving on our board of directors and ethics council, and participating in every area of our organization.

Examples of ways our trained volunteers have helped some of our patients:

Assisting With Interests reading playing chess painting knitting scrapbooking art projects writing letters writing a novel video life review Out and About going to the movies shopping at the mall going out for a meal going out to the beach bookstores libraries theater community events visiting friends and family transportation

Household Tasks running errands walking pets grocery shopping childcare Emotional Support providing respite for caregivers sitting in silence when appropriate providing spiritual support when requested understanding and respecting facilitating support groups for grieving children and adults