Our volunteers are the heart of the AdventHealth Hospice Care East Florida team. These volunteers come from all walks of life. They are former professionals, school teachers, secretaries, homemakers, business executives and accountants.

Because our volunteers spend time in patients’ and families’ homes, we implement a thorough application and interview process to assure the volunteer is right for this type of work. In addition, AdventHealth Hospice Care East Florida has an organized training program for its patient-care volunteers that includes understanding hospice, confidentiality, working with families, listening skills, signs and symptoms of approaching death, loss and grief, and bereavement support.

All volunteers also must successfully pass a background check and have medical clearance, and pass the Hospice Care Volunteer Training Certification program.

Volunteers are priceless resources who provide patients and families a wide array of services, including:

• Respite — Volunteers stay with a patient to give family members a break and provide support to the patient and family.
• Support — Volunteers enhance the quality of life for patients and their families in their homes or in one of the AdventHealth HospiceCare inpatient units. They provide companionship, a listening ear and practical assistance, as well as by sharing hobbies, reading to patients and offering emotional support.
• Vigil Presence — Volunteers help patients and family members to not feel alone on their journey. Throughout an illness, and when the patient is passing, it can be a comfort to have someone to sit in vigil quietly at the bedside, to hold a hand, or whisper words of comfort. Volunteers can help create a peaceful atmosphere for families, share stories about their loved one or help them say goodbye.
• Inpatient Unit — Volunteers offer comfort and care to patients and assistance to HospiceCare staff at the inpatient locations of the AdventHealth HospiceCare inpatient facilities.

Special Services

Friends With Flowers

With flowers donated from a local floral wholesaler and area florists, Hospice Care volunteers create small arrangements for our in-patient units and nursing home facilities. These arrangements help to brighten our patients’ rooms and their days!

Life Legacies

Life Legacies allow a patient to record their life stories to share with future generations. Life legacies is another complementary service provided AdventHealth Hospice Care East Florida.

Pet Partners

Unique to AdventHealth Hospice Care East Florida, Hospooch Care and Hospuss Care provide patients with a visit by our Pet Partners team. This program brings volunteers and their trained therapy animals to patients to help reduce isolation, stimulate communication and improve emotional and social health.

Pet Peace of Mind

The Pet Peace of Mind program is designed to help AdventHealth Hospice Care East Florida patients and their pets while they are receiving hospice services. AdventHealth Hospice Care East Florida knows that pets who share our lives are family. Patients may not have an opportunity to find a friend or family member who can care for their pets when they go into a hospital or hospice unit. Pet Peace of Mind volunteers may assist with food, litter and the basic veterinary care that patients desperately need for their pets. This may include:

• Basic in-home care.
• Dog walking.
• Pet waste clean-up.
• Flea/tick treatment delivery.
• Transportation to veterinary care or groomers.
• Financial assistance with routine care.

Contact Volunteer Services at (386) 231-6556 for more information.