Volunteers

1. Volunteers Thought for the day- Volunteers should not be looked at as Free - there is a cost for a good Volunteer Program But the benefits they provide are priceless.

2. Recruiting target specific groups – with different approaches Students: Want to know what’s in it for me? Retired: Okay with just Giving Back Veteran: Vet to Vet Where: Students: Schools, Colleges, on-line, health fairs Retired: Senior Centers, Churches, Families Veteran: Vet to Vet Referrals from current volunteers Special circumstances to Hospices: 11th hour- so no one dies alone Vet to Vet- Veteran specific issues Office help- family members of previous patients who may not feel comfortable visiting patients .

3. Training Orientation Hours: What is sufficient? Per Policy Background checks: TB testing: Required paperwork To be completed And brought to Orientation

4. Managing • Records of volunteer: • Outlook for contact info – keep up to date ( free and easy- use categories ) • Use tracking program for hours- ( spreadsheet or Legacy uses Allscripts) • Frequent Emails: Newsletters , Updates, On-going education- • Can be on-line if it is hard to get volunteers together. • Unique circumstancesto Hospices • We deal with people that are dying, not everyone is comfortable with this situation • 11th hr- sit at bedside so no one dies alone • Vet to Vet – with its special challenges. • Patients may change frequently- so job duties change. – Every patient has different needs – Every volunteer has something different to offer or what they are comfortable with doing. • Watch for burn-out – give them permission to take time off • Just check back frequently – to see how they are doing • keep them in the loop with emails and other correspondence.

5. Retaining Education: Continuing to help volunteers understand what we do. (If they know they will help educate other people what we do.) This is one way of giving them something they can use. Appreciation: Showing how important (and vital) the volunteers are. (If they are happy they will tell others how much they like us) Track birthdays, and send a card. Make praise specific to the “good they are doing for patient and/or family” Collaboration: Working together with several moving parts of a business. (Working as a team member helps volunteers feel valued)

6. The Business Costs: Budget should include cost of Training materials, Background checks, TB tests and some way to show Appreciation. Staffing: - Volunteer Manager – equal to HR person. At very least they should have supervisory experience. If possible - position of Volunteer Manager should be - Full time volunteer management : Volunteer Manager should know the business: and be effective at recruiting, training, managing, organizing, and retaining volunteers. Volunteer Requirementsfor Hospices: Mandated by Medicare - 5% match of volunteer hours both direct patient care and office help to direct care hours by paid staff. Presented by Kim Ouwehand of Treasure Valley Hospice –Community Outreach Coordinator and Previous Volunteer Coordinator & Linda Crawford – Legacy Home Health and Hospice – Volunteer Coordinator