FAQ for New Hospice Volunteers: 15 Simple Questions You ' re Afraid to Ask

By Lizzy MilesBefore I was a hospice social worker, I was a volunteer. I was so nervous to visit my first patient. Over time, I became more comfortable. Through the course of switching careers from volunteer to social worker, I attended volunteer training at several organizations. There is a lot of really good information provided, but sometimes hospice staff forget what it ' s like to be NEW. These are the questions I had when I first started. Once I gained experience, and went to school for further training, I decided it might be helpful to write out the answers for others who are just embarking on their hospice journey. It is rewarding.Q: How do I start the conversation?If you are meeting a patient for the first time it may be helpful to speak with the volunteer coordinator to get some helpful information about the patient. Introduce yourself and explain who you are and why you are there. If this is not possible, then it may be helpful to start by checking in with the patient, " How are you feeling? " Ask them about their comfort level and possibly " Do you have any pain? " Ask them about their family, interests, and if they would like to share anything. A good conversation starter and question is " tell me about.... cars, when you were young, a time when you were happy? "Other tips:• Talk about weather, news, or something that is going on currently. It ’s probably best to stay away from politics, but if patient wants to talk about it, you can listen.• Sile...
Source: Pallimed: A Hospice and Palliative Medicine Blog - Category: Palliative Care Tags: conversation hospice lizzy lizzy miles palliative volunteer Source Type: blogs