Volunteer with Beta Hospice

What do hospice volunteers do?

What volunteers do not do

• Give medicines or any nursing care.
• Lift or move a patient, or give personal care such as bathing, unless specially trained and assigned to it.
• Give medical, legal or financial advice.
• Share anything about a patient or family outside the hospice team. Volunteers follow the same privacy rules as staff.

Why does Medicare require hospice volunteers?

Hospice in the United States began as a volunteer movement, and Congress kept that spirit in the Medicare hospice benefit. Under 42 CFR 418.78, a hospice must use volunteers in day-to-day patient care or administrative roles, must train and supervise them, and must keep working to recruit and retain them.

The rule even sets a number. Volunteer hours must equal at least 5 percent of the total patient care hours of the hospice's paid and contracted staff, and the hospice has to document it. So your time is not an extra. It is part of how hospice is meant to work.

What training do volunteers receive?

Federal rules require orientation and training that match the work each volunteer will do. Beta's training runs about 16 hours, combining in-person sessions at our San Bernardino office with self-paced online modules, and is completed before your first placement.

1. Step 1

   Application and interview

   A conversation with the volunteer coordinator about your interests, schedule and any recent loss of your own. Readiness after a recent significant loss is assessed individually, and non-patient assignments are an option when that is the better fit.

2. Step 2

   Screening

   Background check, tuberculosis test and other health screening required for people who visit patients. Beta arranges and pays for the screening.

3. Step 3

   Orientation

   Hospice philosophy, the role of each team member, privacy and confidentiality, infection control, safety in the home, boundaries, communication with people who are dying, grief, and what to do and whom to call if something changes during a visit.

4. Step 4

   Matching and ongoing support

   The coordinator matches you with a patient or a task, close to where you live when possible. You report after each visit and the coordinator is there to talk things through.

How do you apply to volunteer?

To ask about volunteering, call (909) 347-7000 and ask about the volunteer application process.

Volunteers are matched to approved roles based on age eligibility for the role, interests, availability, travel radius and current patient or office needs. The expected commitment is explained before placement.

Our office is in San Bernardino and most volunteer visits happen in patients' homes and care facilities. General office details are on the contact page.

Common questions about hospice volunteering