The hospice concept of care represents a continually growing trend in world health practices. In 1973 there was one hospice in the United States; by 2000 there were nearly 3000 hospices caring for over 400,000 patients annually, and the numbers continue to grow.

Join the more than 300 volunteers who work with these seven Medicare Certified Hospice programs serving the Greater Sacramento Area:

• Kaiser Hospice
• Mercy Hospice
• Sutter VNA & Hospice Roseville
• Sutter VNA & Hospice Sacramento
• Sutter Auburn Faith VNA Hospice
• UC Davis Hospice
• Yolo Hospice

Two Ways to Get Involved:

Volunteer
Patient Care Volunteers may provide:

• Respite by staying with the patient while the caregiver has some time away
• Emotional support by being a caring friend and a good listener
• Companionship
• Practical support in the form of errands or transportation.
• Bereavement care

As an integral part of the hospice team, the volunteer is crucial to the quality of care any hospice can offer.
Volunteers must be caring and emotionally mature individuals who are comfortable with the issues of death and dying and are committed to their work. Volunteers gain tremendous satisfaction from making a difference in the lives of others and continually report individual growth and increased self-knowledge from their experiences in hospice. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age to work in direct patient care.

To volunteer, you will first need to attend a training put on by the Sacramento Hospice Consortium. Once you have finished the training, you are eligible to volunteer at any of the hospice programs listed above. Initial training of 24 hours includes:

• The History and Philosophy of Hospice Care
• Concepts of Death and Dying
• Communication Skills
• Care and Comfort Measures
• Psychosocial Issues
• Spiritual and Cultural Issues in Hospice
• Grief and Bereavement
• The Volunteer Role in Hospice

Course sections are taught by professional staff members from local hospice programs. Training is offered on a regular basis throughout the year, and both weekday courses and evening/weekend options are available. Registration fee is $35. To register for training, please complete the Registration Form and return it, along with the $35 registration fee made payable to Sacramento Hospice Consortium:
7300 Folsom Blvd., Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95826

2009 Volunteer Training Dates:

Host Program: Yolo Hospice                 
Coordinator: Nancy Bodily (530) 758-5566     
Location: Davis               
Dates: Fridays and Saturdays July 10, 11, 17 and 18
Times: 9 AM – 4 PM      

Host Program: Sutter VNA & Hospice, Sacramento                 
Coordinator: Cindy Dunning (916) 388-6211  
Location: Sacramento                
Dates: Mondays September 14, 21, 28 and October 5
Times: 9 AM – 4 PM      

Host Program: Sutter VNA & Hospice, Roseville                       
Coordinator: CJ Noddings (916) 797-7860                       
Location: Roseville                       
Dates: Mondays and Wednesdays October 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28 and Nov. 2 and 4
Times: 1 – 4 PM             

Internship

Starting in the Spring 2010, UC Davis Hospice will be taking on 4 interns, two in Patient Care and two in Office Programs.

Patient Care Interns
Patient Care Internships with the UCD Hospice Program are unpaid and require a commitment of at least 4 hours a week for 6 months. In this role interns will receive 24 hours of training on concepts of death and dying, care and comfort measures, psychological issues, spiritual and cultural issues, grief and bereavement, and the role of volunteers in hospice. Patient Care interns provide in-home companionship, caregiver relief, and other support services to hospice patients. Interns are supervised on a regular basis by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker to improve their patient care skills.

Office Program Interns
Office Program Internships with the UCD Hospice Program are unpaid and require a commitment of at least 4 hours a week for at least 3 months. In this role interns will work under the Program Manager on projects related to the promotion of the Hospice Program. Possible projects include event planning, resource development, and marketing.

Internship Flier: PDF

To apply:
Attend Info Session on Campus
October 5, 2009
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
University Union Walnut Room, 2nd fl.  

Application materials due by 4pm on October 12, 2009.
Submit hard copies of the following to Ashley Lewis in the Career Center, Lassen Hall 1013.

• Resume (optional)
• UCD Hospice Internship Application (to be distributed at the October 5th Info Session)
• Release of Liability form (to be distributed at the October 5th Info Session)

Final selections will be made by November 4th, 2009.
* Note, selected Patient Care Interns must agree to attend one of the Hospice Consortium Training series in January of 2010. Dates and times will be discussed at the Info Session on October 5th.