Hospice volunteers play a vital role with the Quality of Life teams serving hospice patients and their families. Volunteers provide respite care, shopping, delivery of medications and supplies, massage, beautician and barber services, and gardening. They participate with their animals in our pet therapy programs, provide clerical and office support, serve as receptionists, assist with fundraising events, data entry and serve as Ambassadors helping families whose loved ones are receiving care at our Hospice House locations. They help record Life Celebration videos, serve in our gift shops and educate the community about hospice services. They contribute in so many ways, but to hear volunteers talk about hospice volunteering, you would believe they reap all the benefits of their efforts.

Belinda Post became one of the first Hospice House ambassadors when volunteer services introduced the program at Dayton’s Hospice House. She said she is drawn to the involvement with patients and families. “Just being with people touches my life,” said Belinda. “One memorable visit I helped a gentleman downstairs to see his wife, who had not opened her eyes for days. When he stroked her hand, she opened her eyes, and they had a special moment. And that gave me a special moment, too.”

Lola Rowan has been a hospice volunteer and now helps with the Tipp City Senior Citizens who craft items for hospice patients. The group makes lap quilts, aromatherapy squares, neck pillows, walker bags and a variety of other items to comfort hospice patients. Lola says “it is a blessing for us to be able to make things that I know first hand are also a blessing to patients.” Lola knows because she lost her husband to Alzheimer’s disease and the couple benefitted for the last six months of his life from care by Ohio’s Hospice of Miami County. “Whenever I needed them, day or night, they were there,” Lola recalls. “I am so grateful and blessed to be able to give back for the support they gave to me.”

Volunteer service to our hospice organizations is calculated to be valued in millions of dollars, but in reality the contribution of volunteers is priceless. They give from their hearts and enable us to touch the lives of patients and families with compassion and care that far exceeds any dollar amount. We are so grateful for what all our volunteers do to enable us to deliver superior care and superior services. They make our mission possible!

For information on how to volunteer with your local Ohio’s Hospice organization, click on one of the links below:

Community Care Hospice

Hospice of Central Ohio

Ohio’s Hospice of Butler & Warren Counties 

Ohio’s Hospice of Miami County

Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton

Ohio’s Community Mercy Hospice

Ohio’s Hospice of Fayette County

Loving Care Hospice

Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare