Understanding Hospice: Volunteers

At the core of hospice care lies the dedication of compassionate community volunteers. In the early days of hospice, care for the terminally ill was provided by non-professional people with a mission to ease suffering. While registered and certified healthcare professionals deliver today's clinical care, volunteers remain essential to hospice care.

The hospice concept was introduced in 1948 by Dame Cicely Saunders, an English physician who later founded St. Christopher's Hospice in London, considered the first modern hospice. Saunders brought the idea to the U.S. in 1963 during a lecture at Yale University, inspiring the development of hospice services nationwide.

Hospice care gained widespread acceptance in the late 1980s when it became a Medicare-certified program, providing financial stability and recognition to the movement. Although paid professionals now offer clinical care, Medicare still requires that volunteers contribute at least five percent of care hours. This ensures that patients, especially those lonely or whose families need respite, receive visits from compassionate volunteers.

Giving your time and compassion to those on their final journey means so much to the patients and their families. Hospice volunteers don't just support during life; they also provide bereavement care to families after a patient's passing, offering continued comfort and support.

If you are interested in volunteer opportunities with Stillwater Hospice, please complete our online application.