Coming Home Hospice Volunteer Program
What is Hospice? | History of Coming Home Hospice | Volunteer Qualifications & Training | Volunteer Opportunities | Contact UsWhat is Hospice?
Hospice, a word from the Middle Ages designating a place of safe haven for travelers, pilgrims and the sick, is now used to describe a philosophy of care for the terminally ill and their loved ones. Volunteers are integral members of hospice patient care teams, which include physicians, nurses, social workers, attendants, chaplains and bereavement counselors. The care provided by the team is focused on promoting maximum comfort, independence and quality of life through the provision of physical, psychosocial, practical, spiritual and bereavement support. Hospice patients include adults with cancer, AIDS and other terminal illnesses.
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History of Coming Home Hospice
Visiting Nurses & Hospice (VN&H) has a history of developing innovative home care programs dating back to 1925. In 1979, a group of community advocates for the hospice philosophy of care founded what are now the VN&H Hospice Programs. In response to community needs, VN&H began developing home care and hospice for people with AIDS in 1984. In 1987, the VN&H Coming Home Hospice Residence opened its doors as a 24-hour care facility for people with AIDS, cancer and other illnesses. Coming Home Hospice is now owned and in partnership with California Pacific Medical Center.
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Volunteer Qualifications & Training
All potential volunteers must first complete an application, which can be downloaded and attend an interview. If seeking a position as a direct patient care volunteer, you must first complete a 20-hour training. This training is offered twice a year and is free of charge.
Other volunteer positions are available at Coming Home, which do not require the 20-hour intensive training.
Coming Home volunteers are carefully selected and must demonstrate special sensitivity toward the needs of our hospice patients and their families. Helping others through this difficult and critical time provides the volunteer with a sense of personal satisfaction and growth.
The Volunteer Department at California Pacific Medical Center - Davies Campus facilitates the services of the Coming Home volunteer program along with the professional staff and provides supervision and support to all Coming Home volunteers.
A volunteer application
is available here.
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Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers offer their special kinds of support in a variety of capacities:
Patient Care Volunteers provide emotional support and practical assistance, which enhance the comfort and quality of life for patients, their families and loved ones. These services include being available for companionship, listening or simply "being there", as well as running errands, preparing meals or arranging a special outing. Volunteers are assigned to Coming Home Hospice on a shift basis to be available to support any of the facility's 15 residents.
Special Outing Volunteers assist staff with special outing events.
Office and Reception Volunteers assist with administrative clerical activities and serve as receptionists at the Coming Home Hospice residence.
Massage Volunteers offer the relaxing and therapeutic benefits of massage to hospice patients as well as to their loved ones. These volunteers are certified massage therapists who also receive training, which sensitizes them to the special needs of the sick and dying.
Fundraising and Community Relations Volunteers assist with the Hospice fundraising or community awareness and education activities.
A volunteer application
is available here.
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Contact Us
More information about Hospice Volunteer opportunities may be obtained at
415-600-0374 or by contacting us at:
Volunteer Coordinator
Volunteer Department
California Pacific Medical Center - Davies Campus
Castro and Duboce Streets
Level B, North Tower
San Francisco, CA 94114
Our fax number is 415-437-5460.
We look forward to hearing from you!
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