Volunteer
Share your compassion and talents with patients and their families in your community.
HopeHealth is the recipient of the 2020 Best Practices Award from the Rhode Island Foundation for Volunteer Engagement!
Make a Difference in Someone’s Life
HopeHealth's volunteers serve an essential role in caring for people facing serious illness. In partnership with our staff, volunteers support patients and their families through companionship, alternative support services, administrative and community support and more throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. We also partner with Pet Peace of Mind to care for patient's pets when they are no longer able.
HopeHealth is a not-for-profit, mission-driven organization. If you want to make a real and lasting difference in someone's life, we would be grateful for your compassionate gift of time.
Learn more about our ways to volunteer or apply today.
Featured Volunteer Needs
HopeHealth is recruiting for the following volunteer positions and needs:
- Bilingual (Spanish and Portuguese speaking) volunteers to converse with patients in their native language.
- Veteran-to-veteran volunteers to honor the unique needs of veterans at end of life.
- Pet therapy volunteers to provide practical and emotional support to patients and their families.
We will host training session for new HopeHealth volunteers in January (full), March, June and September. Training involves self-paced online learning and a Zoom meeting with our volunteer department.
“Our volunteers provide a sense of calm and reassurance that tells the family, even without words, that they don’t need to be afraid, they are not alone. Blessed is the work of our volunteers!”
—Susannah Currie, M.Div., board-certified chaplain for HopeHealth
Ways to Volunteer
There are many ways to volunteer at HopeHealth depending on your interests and skills. Read on to find the opportunity that's right for you.
- Offer emotional support and companionship to patients and families in our care.
- Provide respite care (temporary caregiver break) for family members caring for loved ones.
- Join our Peaceful Transitions team to ensure no patient ever has to die alone.
- Assist with light household tasks or provide transportation.
- Help a fellow veteran by offering emotional support and companionship.
- Share your skills in art, music, journaling, hand massage, Reiki and any other special talents.
- Warm the hearts of patients and caregivers by offering the companionship of your pet.
- Co-facilitate a grief support group or assist with a dementia-caregiver support group.
- Help in our offices by answering phones, preparing mailings, and filing.
- Host booths at health fairs and community events.
- Assist with special events and fundraisers.
- Represent HopeHealth at senior centers, conferences, houses of worship, etc.
HopeHealth Volunteers Make a Difference
HopeHealth's hospice volunteers share their special skills and talents to bring comfort and joy to patients and their caregivers. Watch how inspiring their work truly is.
Apply to Become a Volunteer!
Volunteers go through a similar application process as employees. Here are the steps:
1. Apply online via our form below.
2. Do a telephone screening. After receiving your application, a HopeHealth representative will call you to get acquainted.
3. Attend new-volunteer training.
4. Get a background check and health check. To ensure the safety of patients and families, you must pass a background check and provide up-to-date medical and immunization records.
Online Application
Apply online here:
“This is what life is about”: The legacy of a 90-year-old hospice volunteer
A 90-year-old hospice volunteer reflects on 22 years of writing patients’ life stories and comforting families after loss. “My life has been enriched beyond words,” she says.