Ways to Serve
Tidewell Hospice offers many ways to volunteer within the organization. From direct patient care, providing administrative support, clowning around to helping grieving children – there is something for everyone. Duties listed below are a sample of potential opportunities and will be explored further with each potential volunteer.
Administrative Support
Duties: Administrative volunteers help in every department at Tidewell Hospice and our parent company Empath Health. Tasks can include filing, manning reception desks, making phone calls, data entry and special projects. These are just some of the ways volunteers can help within our offices.
Requirements: Two-day training preparing volunteers to answer questions and understand our organization. Fingerprinting is required.
Locations: Offices throughout our four service counties and opportunities may vary based on the departments located at a particular site.
Patient Support
Duties: Patient support volunteers can interact with patients in many ways. Duties can include social visits, providing a few hours of respite for a caregiver needing a break, running errands, walking someone’s pet, sitting vigil at a patient’s bedside at the end of life are just a few examples of ways volunteers can help improve quality of life for those under our care.
Requirements: A two and a half day training is required and prospective volunteers must undergo Level 2 fingerprinting.
Locations: In patients’ private homes or care facilities throughout service areas.
Hospice Houses
Duties: Volunteers perform many tasks on their shifts including answering the door, directing families, running meal trays, answering call bells, sitting with patients and stocking supplies.
Requirements: Training is the same as for patient support including Level 2 fingerprinting but also includes often mentoring with a seasoned volunteer for their first shift.
Locations: Our seven Hospice Houses are located throughout our service area.
Complementary Services
Duties: Volunteers trained for patient support often choose to specialize in areas such as Pet Therapy, Reiki, Clowning, or Expressive Arts. Additional training (or evaluation for therapy pets) is offered for these roles.
Requirements: Patient Support training, Level 2 fingerprinting, plus specialized training for area of focus.
Locations: In patients’ homes, care facilities or out in the community as needed.
End-of-Life Doulas
Duties: These specialized volunteers assist families and patients with preparation and planning for end of life. Creating plans and visions for preferences once someone is unresponsive, writing life legacies, and facilitating communication between a patient and family member are some of the ways our Doulas enhance care for those on our services.
Requirements: Patient Support training, Level 2 fingerprinting, plus specialized training for this area of focus.
Locations: In patient’s private homes or care facilities throughout service areas.
Grief and Bereavement
Duties: Grief and bereavement volunteers serve Tidewell families who have lost a loved one as well as community members who have not used Tidewell services. Volunteers can help with support groups, make phone calls and help in administrative offices, help with activities and more.
Requirements: Patient Support training, Level 2 fingerprinting, plus specialized training for this area of focus by our grief staff.
Locations: Various locations available including our Family Grief Center in Ellenton, Tidewell offices throughout our service areas and in the community.
Blue Butterfly
Duties: Volunteers help with support groups or other activities for children and teens (and their parents) who have experienced the death of a special person.
Requirements: Patient Support training, Level 2 fingerprinting, plus specialized training for this area of focus by our Blue Butterfly staff
Locations: Our Blue Butterfly centers are located in Newtown, Lakewood Ranch, Ellenton, and Port Charlotte.
Tidewell Treasures Resale Shops
Duties: Volunteers ring up sales, take and sort donations, price merchandise, stock the floor and more. Various shifts available.
Requirements: Two-day training preparing volunteers to answer questions and understand our organization. Fingerprinting is required.
Locations: Tidewell Treasures Resale Shops are located in Sarasota and Venice.
Professional Roles
Duties: Professionals currently licensed in the State of Florida such as Registered Nurses are used in various capacities throughout Tidewell.
Requirements: Contact Tidewell’s Volunteer Services Department to inquire how you might volunteer.
Locations: Various
Other
There are many volunteer opportunities at Tidewell Hospice and we are always looking for new and/or additional programs that can benefit patients and families as well as volunteers. Please contact us with your proposed opportunity and if we can make it align with our mission and regulations, we will consider adding it. Some of our best programs have been started by individuals with great ideas!
Learn more about volunteering at Tidewell by calling (941) 441-2061 or click here to request more information.