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Volunteer

As a volunteer, you are a treasured member of the Hospice Austin team. Whether you elect to visit patients, share a specific talent or assist a program that interests you, we welcome your support. Our volunteers share our calling to bring comfort and help to others when they need it the most.

Who are volunteers?

  • People 18 years and older give time and talents to support and broaden the work of our organization
  • Friends or relatives of former hospice patients
  • People who have heard about Hospice Austin and believe in our work
  • People from both rural and urban areas
  • People from all cultures and backgrounds

What do volunteers do?

Patient/family support
Your visit can make someone’s day! Our volunteers bring companionship to our patients and their loved ones. You can visit and read with patients, run errands, write letters, listen to music, play cards or games, take walks, assist the patient and family with projects, provide transportation to appointments, and give the caregiver time to get away for short periods. You can make a profound difference in a family’s life as a compassionate and calm presence who understands what they’re going through.

Bereavement support
You can work closely with Hospice Austin’s bereavement staff in duties that range from assisting as a support group facilitator to being an understanding listener for family members whose loved ones have died. Bereavement support volunteers receive extensive training beyond the training of patient companion volunteers.

Office support
We also welcome help in our administrative offices. Various duties may include data entry, record keeping, filing and telephone duties. Fundraising responsibilities can range from preparing mailings or thank you letters to organizing fundraising events and contacting possible donors.

Community awareness
Word-of-mouth is a very important way people learn about our care and mission. You can volunteer to act as an ambassador for Hospice Austin, sharing our story at community events like health fairs. You also can help us raise awareness of the resources Hospice Austin makes available to our community.

Special skills and services
We are always on the lookout for volunteers with specific skills to help our patients and their families. These include licensed massage and acupuncture professionals, licensed hair cutters, pet therapy volunteers, and musicians. Spanish-speaking volunteers are also in high demand.

Volunteer Training

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic future volunteer training dates have been cancelled.

All Hospice Austin volunteers are encouraged to attend volunteer training. Volunteers who wish to work directly with patients and families must take the volunteer training. Other volunteers who would like to help in the office or at special events receive on-the-job orientation and training.

Training sessions are held in Austin twice a year, in February and September.
Each course meets six times over a two-week period. All six sessions are required to complete training.

Sessions are held 6 p.m.– 9 p.m. on two Tuesdays and two Thursdays and 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on both Saturdays at Hospice Austin’s main office, 4107 Spicewood Springs Road.

To become a volunteer, please print out and complete the Volunteer Application Forms, including the two reference letters, then call our volunteer coordinator at (512) 342-4735 to request an interview.

Hospice Austin volunteers are asked to commit to at least one year of service, unless there are unusual circumstances. Usually, volunteers give about four hours a week with that time being flexible to allow for different schedules.

For information on volunteering, please call (512) 342-4700 or (800) 445-3261 or email us here. Thank you so much for your willingness to help.