What is Hospice? Hospice is a philosophy of care. Hospice care is palliative, which means it focuses on patient comfort and quality of life. Most of our patients are cared for in the comfort of their homes or in the home-like setting of choice such as a nursing home, personal care home or assisted living residence. If a symptom is difficult to manage in the home, a patient may be admitted to a hospital for short-term symptom management. But it is our goal to help patients remain at home in familiar surroundings, whenever possible.
We welcome volunteers from all walks of life, and anyone age 18 years or older may apply. We have opportunities for seasonal, time-limited, and long-term volunteers. We are committed to finding a place for you in our program and making your volunteer experience successful.
If you have experienced a recent loss, we ask that you wait one year before volunteering in homes with patients and families.
We value your interest in our program and are committed to working with you and your schedule. You can commit as much or as little time as your life and schedule permit. Some volunteer activities, such as office projects, might involve less than one hour per week. Other activities, such as patient companionship, may involve two or more hours per week.
At Hospice of NGMC, we understand that our volunteers have diverse skills and interests. Whether you want to work directly with patients and help our program run smoothly behind the scenes, we’re dedicated to providing you with the training and support you need to be an effective volunteer.
Role:
- Assists Bereavement staff with providing grief support to families of hospice patients
Training Required:
- Sixteen (16) hour volunteer general training
- Four (4) hour position specific bereavement support training and completion of volunteer file
Role:
- Provides weekly drop-in visits to hospice patients hospitalized at Northeast Georgia Medical Center
Training Required:
- Sixteen (16) hour volunteer general training
- Two (2) hour site specific training & completion of personnel file
Role:
- Provides company to hospice patients in long term care residences
Training Required:
- Sixteen (16) hour volunteer general training
- Two (2) hour site specific training & completion of personnel file
Role:
- Stays with patient while caregiver takes a break from care giving inside or away from the home
Training Required:
- Sixteen (16) hour volunteer general training
- Four (4) hours comfort care training with shadowing opportunity available & completion of personnel file
Role:
- Credentialing through an established pet credentialing program
- Pet and owner/handler provide supportive visits to patients and families
Training Required:
- Sixteen (16) hour volunteer general training
- Completion of personnel file
Role:
- Provides a professional skill like cosmetology, pet therapy, nursing, massage, manicures, music, media etc.
- Certification/licensure requirements may apply
Training Required:
- Sixteen (16) hour volunteer general training
- One (1) hour position specific training and completion of personnel file
Role:
- Professional education/credentialing required
- Provides spiritual support to patients and families
Training Required:
- Sixteen (16) hour volunteer general training
- Four (4) hours position specific training and completion of personnel file
Role:
- Sits at the beside of dying patients
Training Required:
- Sixteen (16) hour volunteer general training
- Three (3) hour site specific training & completion of personnel file
Role:
- Assists Bereavement staff with providing grief support camps for kids
Training Required:
- Four (4) hour bereavement volunteer training
- Completion of personnel file
Role:
- Assists with activities such as bingo or crafts in assisted living facilities
Training Required:
- Sixteen (16) hour volunteer general training
- Three (3) hours site specific training and completion of volunteer file
Role:
- Sews “Memory Bears” for families of hospice patients
Training Required:
- Two (2) hour training
- Completion of “practice bear” and personnel file
Role:
- Makes gowns, bibs, catheter bag covers, pillows, care bags, wooden memory boxes, blankets etc.
Training Required:
- One (1) hour training
- Completion of personnel file – requirements vary by project
Role:
- Provides clerical support in the hospice office such as data entry, mailing, and filing.
Training Required:
- Four (4) hour basic volunteer training
- Completion of personnel file
Role:
- Assists hospice staff with public speaking, health fairs and community events
Training Required:
- Sixteen (16) hour volunteer general training
- Two (2) hour position specific training with hospice nurse liaison
Veteran-to-Veteran Volunteer
Role:
- Visits hospice patients who are veterans and assist staff with thank-you presentations. Learn more about our work with veterans.
Training Required:
- Eight (8) hour volunteer general training
- Completion of personnel file
Become A Hospice Volunteer
Volunteers are indispensable to Hospice of NGMC. Volunteers provide an extra set of eyes, ears, and hands to help those in need. There is room for volunteers from every academic major. While there are obvious roles for students in Psychology, Sociology, and Medical Sciences, there are also roles for Fine Arts majors, languages, and any other field imaginable! If you’re interested in be coming a hospice volunteer, please fill out our volunteer interest form here: https://www.nghs.com/hospice-volunteer. For more information, please contact John McMillon at 770-219-0242 or john.mcmillon@nghs.com.
Hospice of Northeast Georgia Medical Center
2150 Limestone Parkway, Suite 222
Gainesville, Georgia 30501
For further questions, email our team at hospice.volunteers2@nghs.com or call 770-219-0276. We look forward to hearing from you!
Featured Story
What Do Our Volunteers Say?
“Volunteering with Hospice of Northeast Georgia Medical Center means bringing joy and kindness to those living through some of the most difficult times. Bringing Willa to visit patients and families on hospice gives them a chance to breathe and reminisce on some special times in their lives with their own pets, which can be a really comforting experience.”
Taylor S. & Willa | Pet Therapy Volunteer
“People ask ‘why would you want to do that?’ and I think to myself ‘why wouldn’t I want to do that? It’s an opportunity for me to show compassion toward someone at the end of their life and try to make difference in their life as well as their family’s lives.”
Robin G. | Hospice Patient Care Volunteer
“In my 8 years as a volunteer, I have NEVER felt underappreciated or taken for granted. I am proud to be a part of an excellent organization.”
Sandy P. | Hospice Patient Care Volunteer
What do college volunteers say about their service?
“Volunteering with Hospice at NGMC has given me the opportunity to give back with just my time, compassion, and care for these vulnerable patients who need someone in their time of need. I really did not expect the fulfillment that this opportunity has brought me, or the new perspective about end-of-life care. I encourage anyone and everyone to give it a try!”
Erika | Senior, UNG 2025
I volunteer because I can comfort those in times of struggle and give back to my community. This time of life for some can be very confusing, upsetting, or frustrating, and I’m glad I can help some of these patients navigate these emotions. I’ve gained so much from my time as a hospice volunteer. I have a new appreciation for the hospice team and the enormous amount of effort they put into making their patients’ experience as comfortable as possible. I’ve learned how to communicate with people during times of distress and turmoil. This is an experience that allows you to be a part of something bigger than yourself and further your skills, especially for those considering a career in human services.
Kennedy | Senior, UNG
Madeline | Junior, UGA
Through volunteering with hospice, I was able to learn about the importance of emotional intelligence in patient care. These sacred experiences of human connection have reaffirmed my desire to pursue a career in the medical field.
As a hospice volunteer at Northeast Georgia, I had the privilege of experiencing deeply heartfelt encounters with patients and their loving family members, offering emotional support during their most vulnerable moments. The volunteer staff were some of the kindest and most generous individuals I’ve ever worked with, always going above and beyond to ensure patients and families felt cared for and comforted. The compassion and hard work they displayed made a lasting impact on me and reinforced the importance of community and empathy in all stages of life. Students should volunteer for hospice care as it offers a unique opportunity to build empathy by supporting patients and families during challenging times. It also allows them to gain exposure to the healthcare field, working alongside a variety of providers, and interfacing with a patient’s family — all whilst forming meaningful and fulfilling connections that can grow both personal and professional growth.
Grace | Graduated, Ross University School of Medicine
Read More About Hospice
Hospice License # 069-160H