Direct Care volunteers

Whether it’s reading a book, running an errand, taking a short walk or listening to stories about grandchildren and days of old, your time as a Direct Care volunteer provides important emotional and social support to our patients and their families.  Your volunteer hours will be flexible, depending on the needs of your patient’s family and your own schedule. Read one volunteer’s story about his hospice journey here.

Mission Hospice & Home Care provides volunteers with 26 hours of training to prepare for visiting patients. Our experienced volunteers offer mentoring and other support. We will never ask you to do anything that takes you out of your physical or emotional comfort zone.

Mission Hospice & Home Care also trains direct care volunteers to vigil with patients and families at end of life or when families may benefit from extra support. After completing the direct care volunteer training, volunteers may participate in additional training concentrating on special situations such as watching vigil. Contact us to find out more about our vigil program.

In partnership with Mills-Peninsula Hospital, Mission Hospice & Home Care volunteers and others provide companionship and support to terminally ill hospital patients who are without family or friends, to ensure that no one dies alone. Contact us to find out more about volunteering with the “No One Dies Alone” program.

Volunteers at our hospice house in Redwood City provide compassion, dignity, and comfort to people in their last weeks of life. As a Mission House volunteer, you might sit with and care for residents, help staff with personal care and transfers, or help cook and serve meals for patients and families. You might also help keep the house and gardens clean and beautiful, including assisting with housekeeping and laundry, watering plants, or answering the phone.

We welcome volunteers who are bilingual, or have special training or interests that can improve quality of life for patients. Some of our patients speak other languages, or enjoy art, music, massage, poetry, or visits from pets.

To find out more about volunteering with Mission Hospice, you’re invited to attend a volunteer information session. If you’re ready to become a volunteer with Mission Hospice, please complete our Volunteer Application. We offer new volunteer training for Direct Care volunteers several times a year, and will schedule your training once we approve your application.