Volunteer with Bond County Home Health & Hospice
Share your time with patients and families in Bond, Clinton, Fayette, Madison and Montgomery counties. No medical experience required.
Before you start
Thank you for your interest in becoming a volunteer for Bond County Hospice. Bond County Home Health and Hospice cares for patients within a 35-mile radius of its Greenville location, including portions of Bond, Clinton, Fayette, Madison and Montgomery counties. The questions below can help you decide if this vocation is the right fit for you as you explore sharing your precious free time with us.
Where you would serve
Within 35 miles of Greenville. We do our best to keep assignments within a half hour of your home.
Training
6 to 8 hours of initial training, which can be broken into individual sessions and completed within 21 days of joining the team.
Commitment
Flexible. We serve 10 to 12 patients at any given time, so there may be periods when you are not matched with a patient.
Ways to help
Not all volunteers sit with patients. We welcome talented individuals of all types.
- Run errands for the home bound
- Cook a meal or make a dessert
- Make a lap blanket
- Send out cards to families
- Simple office duties
- Help with public information programs in your community
- Make or find gifts for the holidays
- Sit with patients and offer companionship
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to sit with patients?
Not all volunteers sit with patients. We welcome talented individuals of all types! We can use people to run errands for the home bound, cook a meal or make a dessert, make a lap blanket, send out cards to families, simple office duties, help with public information programs in your community or make and find gifts for the holidays.
Do I have to have medical experience to sit with patients?
No. Bond County Home Health and Hospice have a professional staff to meet the medical and mental health needs of the patient. Our volunteers are there to offer compassion and friendship to the patient and their family.
Is volunteering a 52-week-per-year commitment?
Not necessarily. On average, we serve 10 to 12 patients at any given time. There may be periods when you are not matched with a patient. This could be due to logistical factors, such as location and patient demand, or personal factors, such as timing and compatibility. Maintaining a broad volunteer base allows us to make the best matches for patients, prevent volunteer burnout, and allows volunteers to maintain a work-life balance.
Can I decline a patient opportunity?
Yes. There can be a number of reasons you may not want to be assigned to a patient, for example the patient is a smoker, pet allergies, or their situation is too close to a personal experience. We want what is best for you and the patient.
How far do I have to drive?
We do our best to keep distances within a half hour of your home. Having volunteers that are located within the same community fosters a connection and builds trust, creating a more comfortable environment for families to welcome someone in their home.
Can you work around specific days or take some extended time off?
Most certainly. We also recognize you have a personal life which may include babysitting kids or grandkids, taking care of elderly grandparents, volunteering at the local community, church or school, household duties or a part time job. Or, sometimes you need to take an extended time off for an illness or a family situation. Having a broad base of volunteers can help each other as much as we help our patients.
Is there training involved?
Yes. We are required by federal regulations and Medicare statutes to provide training to all volunteers associated with a Hospice program. There is an initial training course that covers the hospice mission, care and comfort, death and dying, grief and loss, patient rights, HIPAA and confidentiality, ethics, and annual training on dementia. The initial course takes a total of 6 to 8 hours, can be broken up into individual sessions, and must be completed within 21 days of the date of admittance to the Hospice team.
What paperwork is required?
Trust is paramount to our program when we go into patient homes, therefore we require the following documents. You will need a valid driver’s license, a completed Bond County Health Department Application, and a passed Illinois Department of Children & Family Services background check.
In addition, you will need to agree with the stipulations outlined in the following: the Bond County Volunteer Expectations, a Confidentiality & Non-Disclosure Agreement, a Conflict of Interest & Corporate Compliance, and a Drug Testing Notice & Acknowledgement. You will also complete a Health Questionnaire and TB skin test and a Photo Release Form.
Request a volunteer application
If you are still interested in becoming a volunteer, fill out the form below and Darlene Menietti will send you an application. You can also email her directly at darlene.menietti@bchd.us or call (618) 664-5020.