During National Volunteer Week, Caris Healthcare Celebrates the Gift of Volunteers

During National Volunteer Week, April 23 – 29, Caris Healthcare honors the 591 dedicated volunteers who ensure patients and families facing serious and life-limiting illness find hope, dignity and love.

Family Services Coordinator Diana Puckett said, “There is nothing more powerful than seeing the basic human spirit of compassion personified. Caris witnesses this each day through the work of our volunteers. Whether they are honoring one of our veteran patients, sitting quietly at the bedside or assisting with administrative tasks, our volunteers continue to give their time to enhance the lives of others.”

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization reports there are an estimated 430,000 trained hospice volunteers providing more than 19 million hours of service to hospice programs each year.

It is federally mandated under Medicare that 5% of all patient care hours be provided by trained volunteers reflecting the vital role volunteers play in the provision of care. Caris Healthcare’s volunteer program exceeds that requirement at 8.83%.

Anyone with a caring heart and a little time to share can become a hospice volunteer. Caris Healthcare volunteers come from all walks of life and bring a wide variety of interests and life experiences to support and comfort the patients and families Caris is privileged to serve.

Please don’t let the word “hospice” scare you. Caris volunteers enter the lives of hospice patients and their loved ones at one of the most important times in anyone’s life. By providing companionship and support, unconditional love and understanding, hospice volunteers receive far more in return than they ever give.

There are hundreds of quality volunteer opportunities in every community. Few of them compare to the sheer joy you feel, the impact you can have, and the personal growth you experience when you become a hospice volunteer at Caris Healthcare.

For those interested in learning more about hospice or volunteer opportunities, please visit https://carishealthcare.com/contact-us/volunteers/.