Volunteers

" Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others
cannot keep it to themselves"
Sir James M Barrie

Taylor Hospice volunteers play an active role in helping to provide comfort, strength and emotional support to our patients and their family members. Volunteering is an unselfish act of kindness and, as such, our volunteers are the very heart of our program. They help to distinguish the care and compassion that we provide to our patients, families and community.

Becoming a volunteer doesn't require professional training. Most volunteers bring a host of knowledge and skills acquired over a lifetime as an informal caregiver: mother, father, spouse, adult child of aging parents, friend.

Volunteers provide the following services:
Respite
Support services - companionship, visiting, active listening
Sharing hobbies and interests - reading, watching a movie, listening to music, watching sports on TV
Assisting with errands - grocery shopping, picking up prescriptions or other household supplies
Transporting patient or family member to appointments, shopping or social outings
Homemaking - simple meal preparation, laundry, dishes
And, perhaps the most important task of a hospice volunteer is to simply be there for the patient to provide reassurance that they are not alone and that they are safe.

At times, it is not easy work but the personal rewards can be tremendous. The strength and courage of the terminally ill individual is a source of inspiration. Volunteers often feel that they have gained more than they were able to provide.