Hospice Volunteers

“Volunteering in hospice has made me grateful for even the small things in my life." ~ EvergreenHealth Hospice Volunteer.

Volunteers are integral members of the hospice care team and help support patients and their families. Our specially trained volunteers assist staff and welcome guests at the hospice care center in Kirkland and visit patients who live at home or in facilities in communities throughout King and Snohomish Counties. 

What would you do as a hospice volunteer? Hold a hand, watch television, listen to music or sing old songs, cook a meal, do some light housekeeping, listen to someone’s life story, run errands, go for a walk or wheelchair stroll, give an exhausted caregiver a short break. It’s the simple act of just showing up that can make a difference.

Volunteers are trained and supported by the volunteer coordinators and the hospice team.

Steps to becoming a hospice volunteer

Requirements

• If you have experienced a loss, we ask that you wait a full year before beginning this process.
• Be at least 21 years old
• Time commitment of one year; weekly commitment varies by position
• Provide documentation of your immunization history, to include:
  • 2-step TB skin test
  • Tdap (whooping cough) booster
  • two MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccinations OR positive blood titers
  • two Varicella (chicken pox) vaccinations OR a positive blood titer
  • Hepatitis B series and/or a positive blood titer
  • current year flu shot

The Process

• Submit our online application*
• Provide two personal (non-family) or professional references
• Complete an interview. Paperwork at that time will include providing Social Security and driver's license numbers.
• Pass Washington State Patrol and nationwide background checks
• Complete the Hospice Volunteer Core Training and required position-specific training
• If your position requires driving, your driving record must be reviewed and approved
• Submit documentation of required immunizations.

* If you are unable to submit an application online, please email us at LstHospiceVolunteers@evergreenhealth.com or call 425.899.1070 and we will have an application packet mailed to you.

Please add our email address LstHospiceVolunteers@evergreenhealth.com to your safe sender list. If you don’t hear from us within two weeks, please check your junk folder and contact us.

Volunteer Training Dates 

We offer multiple trainings throughout the year. Sessions are held at the Gene & Irene Wockner Hospice Center (12822 124th Lane NE, Kirkland, WA 98034), unless otherwise noted. Each training consists of two days, from 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

• Jan. 24 and 31, 2018  
• Apr. 18 and 25, 2018  
• June 20 and 27, 2018
• Aug. 1 and 8, 2018
• Nov. 3 and 10, 2018 (session is full)
• Jan. 23 and 30, 2019

Interested in learning more about hospice volunteering?

We're happy to answer your questions about becoming a volunteer at EvergreenHealth Hospice! You can call us at 425.899.1040 or submit your questions via our online form.

Read about one hospice volunteer's training, and how he helps those at the end of life.

Learn more about our hospice volunteer program in this story from Natural Awakenings magazine (go to page 13).