volunteer

Volunteers are needed to provide companionship and bereavement support, to work directly with patients and families, and to provide clerical assistance at the Hospice House and the Hoover Office. Volunteers receive basic orientation through our Hospice Orientation Program, which provides training for hospice care, and for life. Contact us for more information on becoming a Hospice of Holland volunteer.

hospice orientation program (HOP)

The HOP consists of 24 hours of classroom in-services. Contact us for more information on schedules for current and upcoming classes. To schedule a pretraining interview or learn more about volunteering, call 616-396-2972 and ask for the volunteer coordinator. After completing the HOP, volunteers may expand their opportunities to help by attending any of the following workshops: Comforting Choices Training, Hospice House Training, Bereavement Training, HeartLink Training.

comforting choices program

Volunteers are needed to help with the activities offered in our Comforting Choices program. By promoting enjoyment and a strong sense of well-being for patients, these activities can help in managing pain and controlling symptoms. Any necessary training will be provided. Consider volunteering in one or more areas.

Artistic Adventure. Help patients explore their creativity using artistic expression on a variety of projects. Charcoal pencil, crayon, marker, oil pastel, printmaking, watercolor pencil, luma and watercolor paint are on hand for use.

Pet-a-Pet Therapy. Work with patients and pets during scheduled visits from certified Therapy Dogs, Inc.

Sounds of Comfort. Musically inclined volunteers are needed to: sing or play the piano, keyboard or other instruments for patients; join the bell choir to play hymns and participate in sing-a-longs; assist patients and/or family members in playing keyboard and rhythm instruments.

Comforting Touch. Volunteers are trained to apply lotion to a patient's hands for relaxation and comforting touch.

Remembrance/Life Review. Help a patient or family member capture significant moments, for personal growth or as a family legacy, through the creation of a journal, scrapbook, memory box, audio or video recording, or a family tree.

Reading Aloud. Volunteer to spend time reading to patients.

Massage Therapy. Certified Massage Therapists provide massages to patients and family members for comfort and relaxation purposes.  See current openings for Massage Therapists.

the heartlink program

Churches play a vital role in our community by providing spiritual care, social interaction and various levels of support. We believe hospice care is an extension of that role. The HeartLink Program was designed to create a connection between Hospice of Holland and area churches and faith communities by identifying and training one or more members of a church to serve as hospice representatives within the congregation. Representatives maintain close contact with congregation leaders and members and convey the needs of the church family to hospice. In addition to providing the congregation with communication and information regarding hospice services and events, representatives also serve as a resource on topics related to death, dying and grief, for Sunday school and adult education programs.

Becoming a Representative.  Consider becoming a HeartLink representative if you are an active member of your congregation; compassionate, caring and empathic; a good listener; able to work with people of diverse cultures; community-oriented; self-motivated; a creative thinker who can think "outside the box." HeartLink representatives should not have recently suffered a major loss or be in an early stage of bereavement. Contact us to become a HeartLink representative, or call Hospice of Holland at 616-396-2972 and ask to speak to a member of the business development team.

Training.  Hospice of Holland offers training sessions in the spring and fall for those interested in becoming a HeartLink representative. In addition to covering general hospice services, the initial four-hour training session helps representatives understand and embrace their role as link between their congregation and hospice. Following initial training, representatives are invited to attend short meetings every other month to learn about relevant, hospice-related topics, and to share ideas with other HeartLink representatives. Once trained, representatives are encouraged to participate in the Hospice Orientation Program (HOP) to get a more comprehensive understanding of Hospice of Holland.

The HeartLink Mission.  Our mission is to partner with local faith communities in an effort to ensure the highest quality end-of-life care to the greatest number of people.

volunteer vigil program

Some patients may have small or distant families, or few loved ones able to be with them, making their final hours more difficult. Volunteers in this program are available to sit with patients-to give family members a rest, to offer emotional comfort and support, or simply to be a calming presence. Volunteers are generally on-call for a full 24-hour period. Additional training is required.