Position Summary:
Provide compassionate support to grieving families and individuals following the loss of a loved who was under Melodia Care hospice services. This role offers emotional support through structured outreach and helps maintain the hospice’s connection with families during the bereavement period.
Key Responsibilities:
- Make supportive follow-up phone calls to bereaved family members at scheduled intervals (1 month, 3 months, etc.)
- Send condolence cards and bereavement literature to families
- Assist with preparation and mailing of grief support materials
- Help set up and facilitate bereavement support group meetings (if trained and comfortable)
- Provide a listening ear and emotional support during calls, referring complex needs to the Bereavement Coordinator
- Document all contacts and any significant concerns in the bereavement tracking system
- Maintain strict confidentiality regarding family information and conversations
Time Commitment:
- Minimum: 6 months
- Hours per week: 2-4 hours (flexible scheduling)
- Schedule: Weekdays primarily, with some evening availability preferred for family calls
Location:
- Primarily remote/from home (phone calls, administrative tasks)
- Occasional on-site work at Melodia Care office for mailings or support group setup
Qualifications & Requirements:
- Minimum age: 21 years
- Completion of 16-hour core hospice volunteer training
- Additional specialized training in grief support and active listening
- Clear criminal background check
- Personal emotional stability and at least one year since any significant personal loss
- Empathetic communication skills and comfort discussing grief and loss
- Professional boundaries and ability to refer complex situations to staff
Training Provided:
- Core hospice volunteer training (16 hours)
- Specialized bereavement support training (4-6 hours)
- Active listening techniques for grief conversations
- Training on bereavement documentation and referral protocols
- Ongoing supervision and support from Bereavement Coordinator
Benefits to Volunteer:
- Deeply meaningful opportunity to support people through grief and healing
- Development of specialized skills in grief support and active listening
- Flexible remote work options
- Community service hours verification
- Professional letter of recommendation after 6 months of satisfactory service
- Being part of the continuum of hospice care beyond the patient’s death
