What Does a Hospice Volunteer Do?
By CRYSTAL BAI •
The short answer: Hospice volunteers provide companionship, practical assistance, and respite to dying patients and their family caregivers — at no cost to the family. Under the Medicare Hospice Benefit, hospices are required to have volunteers provide at least 5% of their total patient care hours. Volunteers are trained, supervised hospice team members who extend the reach of professional care into the home and community.
What Hospice Volunteers Do
Hospice volunteers serve both patients and caregivers:
For patients:
- Companionship and conversation — sitting with the patient so they're not alone
- Reading aloud, watching TV together, playing music
- Light grooming (brushing hair, nail care) if trained and comfortable
- Running errands or helping with light tasks
- Providing respite so family caregivers can leave the home
- Vigil volunteering — sitting with a patient who is actively dying so no one dies alone
For family caregivers:
- Providing 2–4 hours of respite so the caregiver can sleep, run errands, or simply rest
- Emotional support and listening
- Bereavement support after the death (some hospices have trained bereavement volunteers)
Administrative and Behind-the-Scenes Volunteers
Not all hospice volunteers work directly with patients. Many serve in:
- Office administration and database support
- Preparing bereavement mailings and materials
- Community education and outreach events
- Fundraising events and advocacy
How to Become a Hospice Volunteer
Every Medicare-certified hospice has a volunteer program. To volunteer:
- Contact your local hospice's volunteer coordinator
- Complete an application and background check
- Attend volunteer training (typically 8–20 hours covering the dying process, communication skills, boundaries, grief, and self-care)
- Be matched with patients or family caregivers based on your skills and availability
How Hospice Volunteers Relate to Death Doulas
The roles overlap but are distinct. Hospice volunteers work within a hospice organization's structure, serve only hospice-enrolled patients, and are unpaid. Death doulas work independently, serve clients throughout the end-of-life journey (including before hospice enrollment), and typically charge fees. Many death doulas begin as hospice volunteers — gaining experience and finding their calling before launching an independent practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a hospice volunteer do?
Hospice volunteers provide companionship, respite care, and practical assistance to dying patients and their family caregivers. They may sit with patients, provide 2-4 hours of respite so caregivers can rest, run errands, and in some programs, sit vigil with patients who are actively dying.
Are hospice volunteers required by Medicare?
Yes. Under the Medicare Hospice Benefit, hospices are required to have volunteers provide at least 5% of total patient care hours. This requirement ensures that volunteer services are a meaningful, organized component of every Medicare-certified hospice program.
How do I become a hospice volunteer?
Contact your local hospice's volunteer coordinator. You'll complete an application, background check, and training (typically 8–20 hours). No medical background is required — the most important qualities are compassion, reliability, and comfort with death and dying.
What is the difference between a hospice volunteer and a death doula?
Hospice volunteers work within a hospice organization, serve only enrolled patients, and are unpaid. Death doulas work independently, serve clients throughout the end-of-life journey, and charge fees. Many death doulas start as hospice volunteers.
Does hospice charge for volunteer services?
No. Hospice volunteer services are provided at no additional cost to patients and families — they are part of the standard Medicare hospice benefit. Families simply need to ask the hospice team to arrange volunteer support.
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