Hospice Northwest Services Volunteer Program

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Must submit a current police records check report from the police service in whose jurisdiction the applicant resides. This will include a search of the Vulnerable Sector or Pardoned Sexual Offender Database
• Must complete the volunteer training program and accessibility training
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality at all times
• Must be able to commit a period of time to hospice volunteering (eg. 3 hours each week for at least one year)
• Must be available to check in with the Hospice Northwest staff for support, supervision and on-going education
• Must display palliative care traits that include being compassionate, non-judgmental, accepting, self-confident and sensitive to others' needs
• Access to a computer/Internet is beneficial as much of the training is online

• A valid driver's license, insurance coverage and access to a vehicle
• The ability to speak more than one language is a plus
• The willingness to visit the client in various locations, such as home, hospital or long-term care facilities. Volunteers are asked which location they prefer when they begin volunteering. We will make an effort to respect your preference; however, volunteers are encouraged to  continue with their clients even if the location of their client changes.

When you sign up as a Hospice Northwest volunteer, you are required to complete a provincially accredited training program, delivered through a variety of formats including online training modules and group sessions. These informative classes and modules will help you understand the many issues people face at the end of life.

You will be required to complete 13 HPCO online modules (approx. 30 hours), independent studies and 4 local training sessions, offered either face-to-face or by Zoom (depending on Covid-19 restrictions), each lasting approximately 3 hours.

Our online training program is offered through the Hospice Palliative Care Ontario (HPCO), and is delivered through a platform provided by Saint Elizabeth. Our in-person modules are taught by experts in the field of hospice palliative care and include sessions on Role of the Volunteer, Body Mechanics, Cultural Considerations, Communication Skills and Grief and Bereavement  training.

All volunteers complete a provincially accredited hospice volunteer training program that is delivered through a variety of formats including online training modules, group sessions and recorded training videos. Although the training modules are subject to change each year, the following list outlines the kind of information a volunteer can expect to learn during a hospice volunteer training program.

• Module 1: Introduction to Hospice Palliative Care
  This session provides participants with an opportunity to learn more about the concept and history of hospice and palliative care.
• Module 2: Role of the Volunteer and Understanding Professional Boundaries
  This session is designed to clarify the objectives and importance of hospice volunteers, and will outline the role of volunteer, including an understanding of the boundaries involved in hospice volunteering.
• Module 3: Communication Skills
  Good communication is a vital component of the client/volunteer relationship. In this session, participants learn the types of  communication, the importance of effective communication skills, the barriers they might encounter and the importance of confidentiality.
• Module 4: Pain and Symptom Management
  This module will explore the importance of pain management as well as the sources and factors affecting client pain.
• Module 5: Understanding the Dying Process
  Participants will learn the common signs and symptoms of the dying process and the difference between medical emergency versus imminent (expected) death
• Module 6: Spirituality
  This module helps the volunteer understand the role of spirituality and religion in death and dying. It will explore spiritual distress and resiliency and well as methods of spiritual support.
• Module 7: Grief and Bereavement
  An overview of grief, bereavement and mourning will be presented, along with an exploration of the nature of grief and grief theory.
• Module 8: Care for the Caregiver
  Topics within this module include the types, duties and importance of caregivers, as well as stress, burnout and compassion fatigue and strategies for coping with stress.
• Module 9: The Family
  This session is designed to help volunteers gain awareness of the family as a system, how the roles within a family can change in  response to illness and death, and how volunteers can support family members.
• Module 10: Ethical Issues in Hospice Care
  Participants learn about some of the ethical issues within palliative care and how to approach ethical dilemmas within the values and principles they might encounter as hospice volunteers. Limits to the volunteer role and the importance of boundaries will also be addressed.
• Module 11: Psycho-social Issues and Impact on Illness
  Participants learn about the psycho-social issues and common fears in hospice palliative care, how volunteers can help, the general treatment or therapy regime, and common illnesses experienced by those receiving palliative care.
• Module 12: Cultural Considerations
  Understanding diversity, cultural and personal cultures and the impact on volunteer caregiving will be explored.
• Module 13: Infection Prevention and Control
  This session will look at the chain of infection and how to break it, hand hygiene, routine practices, the transmission of respiratory infection and other infection control measures.
• Module 14: Body Mechanics, Assists and Other Skills
• Module 15: Orientation to Hospice Policies

No, training is free and offered continuously. 

Hospice Northwest provides all the same services that are delivered across the District of Thunder Bay, including volunteer training. These programs are supported by our head office in Thunder Bay and offered in partnership with other health care providers located in out-lining district communities. Our regional communities include:

• Biigtigong Nishnaabeg
• Biinjitiwaakik Zaaging Anishinaabek
• Fort William First Nation
• Geraldton/Longlac
• Long Lake #58
• Manitouwadge
• Marathon
• Michipicoten
• Namaygoosisagagun
• Nipigon
• Pays Plat
• Pic Mobert
• Red Lake (Lake Helen)
• Terrace Bay/Schreiber

View our Regional Coverage for more information

We ask that you commit to a minimum of 3 hours of visiting each week for at least one year, although this varies according to the volunteer's availability and the clients' needs.

Your role as a volunteer may include:

• Active listening and non-judgemental acceptance of the client's journey
• Providing companionship and support to the client and family, both in the community, long term care facilities and acute care hospital settings
• Engaging in client focused conversation - if possible always let the client lead the discussion
• Accompanying the client to appointments
• Providing simple comfort measures for a client, e.g. fluffing pillows, positioning, etc.
• Providing diversional activities, i.e. reading, music, playing cards
• Aiding in feeding, grooming such as simple bathing, hair, nails, makeup, shaving
• Making phone calls, writing letters or reading to client
• Preparing light meals or beverages
• Assisting with funeral arrangements if requested
• Doing small errands for family/client
• Advising the client or family if unable to visit at scheduled time
• Maintaining records of visits and submitting them regularly to Hospice Northwest office or entering hours directly to on line system
• Attending regular monthly volunteer meetings
• Advising the office of vacation, sick leave or other needs that may affect availability
• Observing boundaries and limitations of role
• Observing standards and protocols when working in institutions
• Protecting the integrity of the organization
• When advocacy is requested, you must clarify that your client does want you to speak to other members of the care team in order to improve some aspect of the care. If you are uncomfortable or unsure of how to proceed, call the office for assistance from a designated supervisor.

We ask that you visit a minimum of 3 hours per week but you and your client can decide what your visiting schedule will look like. Visits can include phone calls as well.

Hospice Northwest offers a variety of volunteer get-togethers, support meetings and training opportunities throughout the year. While these events are optional, we do recommend volunteers attend at least occasionally. The HNW Volunteer Coordinator will also be phoning you on a regular basis to check on how your visits are going, offer support and answer questions as needed.

We often hear that our volunteers receive back much more than they give. Our volunteers make a huge difference in people's lives and that sense of giving back to their community is very rewarding.

Helping others promotes satisfaction and self-worth. Volunteering is good for your health - mind, body, and spirit! Meeting new people and making new friends is also a benefit of becoming a hospice volunteer. 

Getting to know your clients and their families and attending HNW events provides you with wonderful
opportunities to meet others.