"When friends learn that I am a Hospice volunteer, they often respond, “Oh, I could never do that!” That reaction is certainly understandable, because Hospice is associated with death, and death is a frightening subject to most of us. I felt that way, too, when I began my volunteering a year ago. I imagined Hospice as a place, usually a hospital-like environment, where cancer patients go when they are days or even just hours from death. I thought sadness would overwhelm me. But I now realize that Hospice is so much more about living. It is a life affirming, life enhancing alternative for end of life care."
​
~ Chris
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VOLUNTEERING

Volunteers are the heart of HPCCR...

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Continuing Education

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704.602.0890
 

Volunteering with HPCCR

Getting Started

Our Volunteer Program

Volunteers are at the very heart of what we do. . . Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region would not exist without the support of our volunteers. They are the heart of our organization. ​ Our specially-trained volunteers bring comfort and peace to patients and families in many ways. They provide companionship to patients in their homes, skilled nursing facilities, and assisted living communities. They help patients cope with life's daily tasks and offer breaks for tired caregivers. They also add much-needed support behind the scenes by helping our staff in the office, at special events, and with fundraising projects. ​ Volunteers give their time and talents in unique and creative ways. Most importantly, our volunteers offer a great deal of love and care. ​ If you have a special skill that might benefit our patients and families, we would encourage you to contact us. Special services volunteers are always needed in such areas as notary services, hair styling, massage therapy, gardening, and pet therapy. We are also actively seeking Veterans to serve our patients who were also part of the armed forces.



Our New Volunteer Training (NVT) Program

8 hours online & 4 hours on-site training The online NVT courses offer interested candidates the ultimate convenience, plus candidates can complete each course at their own pace. ​ Upon completion of an interview, reference checks and 8 hours of required online courses, applicants will be invited to attend the in-person portion of orientation to complete the NVT process. ​ In-person orientation takes place 1-2 times a month at two of our office locations to complete the required 4 hours of Onsite/In-person training. A volunteer manager will review the current orientation schedule with you during the interview process.



Opportunities

Opportunities

There are so many rewarding volunteer opportunities to choose from. . . If you are interested in getting involved with Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region, we have many rewarding opportunities to choose from. Volunteering with us will give you a chance to help others and learn new skills at the same time. In fact, our volunteers often find that the rewards they receive from volunteering are far more than they ever imagined.



Patient & Family Support Volunteers:

  • Visit with the patient and family
  • Give caregivers a much-needed break
  • Run errands
  • Provide transportation
  • Assist with grocery shopping
  • Listen



Holiday Volunteers:

During the Thanksgiving and holiday seasons, our patients and their families often do not have the energy or resources to prepare a special meal or celebration. Individuals and groups can help by preparing and delivering a meal or donating and delivering groceries.



Staff Support Volunteers:

  • Assist with fundraising, health fairs, and special events
  • Assist with patient record filing
  • Research statistical data
  • Collate manuals, run copies, and make phone calls
  • Handle general office tasks
  • Greet visitors at reception area



Group Volunteers:

  • Provide food, gifts, and decorations during holidays
  • Help with much-needed yard work



Special Skills Volunteers:

  • Licensed cosmetologists provide hair services to patients unable to leave home
  • Licensed massage therapists offer tension-relieving massages to patients
  • Certified pet therapy volunteers bring much-needed solace to patients, families, and staff at homes and in long-term communities
  • Licensed notaries offer services in completing Living Will, Health Care Power of Attorney documents, and Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment (MOST) form
  • Talented musicians bring peace and joy to patients



Requirements

Requirements

The best gift is you. . . If you would like to volunteer with Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region, please consider the following requirements: ​

  • Completed application
  • Pre-training interview
  • References
  • Tuberculosis screening
  • Criminal history background check
  • Volunteer specific training
  • Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
​ All Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region volunteers will receive extensive training before being assigned any duties. All active volunteers receive annual ongoing training as well. Before new volunteers can be guaranteed placement, however, an application must be completed, an interview conducted, and references checked.



Earning Continuing Education Credits

Getting Started

Continuing Education (CE) Credits

Just 12 hours can change lives. . . Each year our patient care volunteers are responsible for earning 12 hours of continuing education to remain active. Volunteers are given credit for 4 of these twelve hours for reading "At the Heart," our quarterly volunteer newsletter. Volunteers must earn the other 8 hours by attending an in-service or completing self-study opportunities by the end of the year. Read on to learn more about our in-service and self-study options.



In-Service CE Credit

In-Service (CE) Credits

Easily earn volunteer credits with any of our in-service options. In-service options include:

  • ​Attending our Book Club
  • Attending our Fall 2019 In-service Program
  • Attending a Movie Showing (2 hours of CE)
  • Joining us at our CARE Retreat (4 hours of CE)
  • Joining us at our Skills Fair (2 hours of CE)
  • Attending an IDT Meeting (2 hours of CE / call to schedule)
  • Sitting in on part of Volunteer Training (CE hours vary / call to schedule)
  • Heard of a great event in the community? Call us prior to the event to see if it counts!
​ View our Volunteer CE Calendar of Events to see upcoming in-service opportunities or call us at 704.602.0890.



Self-Study CE Credit

Available Options

Watching a movie or reading a book from our approved list easily earns CE credits. . . If you have not watched the following movies or read the following books, you can check them out from one of our offices through your Volunteer Manager. Questions will be provided along with the movie or the book for you to answer and submit for continuing education credit. If you are unsure if you have used one of these for self-study in the past, please check with your Volunteer Manager.



Movies (2 CE Credits)

  • Christmas in Conway
  • Decoding Annie Parker
  • Hachi
  • I'll Be Me (Glen Campbell movie)
  • It's Not Yet Dark
  • Love, Gilda
  • Patch Adams
  • PS I Love You
  • The Bucket List
  • The Descendants
  • The Doctor
  • The Letters
  • We Bought a Zoo
  • Wit
  • What Dreams May Come



Books (4 CE Credits)

  • As I Lay Dying
  • Being Mortal-Atul Gawande
  • Being with the Dying, "Memories of a Grateful Hospice Volunteer", written by Terry Denny
  • Final Gifts-Maggie Callanan & Patricia Kelley
  • Glimpses of Heaven by Trudy Harris, RN
  • Knocking on Heaven’s Door-Katy Butler
  • Laughter, Tears and Braids-Bruce Ham
  • Life Lessons-David Kessler & Elizabeth Kubler Ross
  • Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand-Helen Simonson
  • Same Kind of Different as Me-Ron Hall, Denver Moore & Lynn Vincent
  • Seeing the Crab-Christina Middlebrook
  • Still Alice-LIsa Genova
  • The Art of Racing in the Rain-Garth Stein
  • The Bright Hour: A Memoir of Living & Dying by Nina Riggs
  • The End of Alzheimer's-Dale E. Bredesen, MD
  • The Fault in Our Stars-John Green
  • The Journey Home-Michael Quinn
  • When Breath Becomes Air-Paul Kalanithi
  • When Evening Comes-Christine Andreae



Specialty Care
Volunteer