Hospice Volunteer Program

You Can Make a Difference!

Torrance Memorial's Hospice network of more than 50 volunteers wear many hats to serve patients and their families. Many of the volunteers who enter the program have benefited personally from Hospice services. Often they join the volunteer program because they want to give back. After completion of the Hospice core orientation with job specific training, volunteers have the opportunity to serve in the following roles:

Patient & Family Home Visits

Trained and vetted Hospice Volunteers can provide a variety of visits to your home, Board and Care or Skilled Nursing Facilities. Volunteers often visit once a week for an average of 2 hours depending on availability (maximum of 4 hours). Hospice Volunteers provide companionship, emotional support and comfort to patients and families. Volunteers are non-medical representatives of our Hospice Team and cannot provide any hands-on patient care.

• Companionship Visits - Our volunteers can provide companionship visits for our patients and their families. Volunteers can sit with patients and chat with them, play music, read to them, go for a walk, do puzzles, play games or cards, watch TV, color, do art or just sit and be present. They can help preserve memories through audio or video projects, write cards to loved ones, talk about life review and journal with them. Volunteers are also available to provide companionship and emotional support with family members of our patients.
• Respite Visits - Volunteers are available to provide Respite for our patient's families and caregivers. Volunteers can stay with patients while family members or caregivers take time for themselves, rest or practice self-care, attend functions or important appointments.
• End-of-Life Doula Visit - End of life doulas have training and experience in various aspects of the dying process, and can help the patient and family understand and come to terms with the process. From working with a patient to create the desired setting for her or his death, to addressing fears or regrets or unfinished business, to conducting a life review, to creating legacy projects with the family, to sitting vigil with the patient and family, to being there during the final hours and immediately after to comfort family members, doulas can offer a variety of supportive services.
• Families may request a Volunteer to bring the following to a visit:
  • Puzzle books
    • Word search
    • Crossword puzzles
    • Word scramble
  • Crayons, colored pencils and coloring books
  • Watercolor paper and paint supplies
  • Magazines or books with colorful photos
  • A book to read to the patient
  • Bluetooth speaker to play music
  • Playing cards
  • Puzzles

Other Areas of Support

When available, volunteers can also help with the following requests:

• Light housework
• Light yard work
• Grocery shopping
• Walk the family dog
• Preparing meals
• Help with errands
• Holiday decorations

Memory Bears

Torrance Memorial Hospice has a very talented volunteer who can help you preserve special fabrics of a loved one in a cute, cuddly way! Select 2-3 fabrics of your loved one to be sewn into a priceless Memory Bear for you to hold and hug. *Suggested fabrics: cottons, cotton blends, chintz, calico, broadcloth, chambray, muslin, flannel, gingham, oxford cloth, moiré and taffeta. Other items are acceptable as long as they are not too heavy (like denim), or too stretchy. The large bear is approximately 18”, while the smaller version is 15”. It is best to supply at least 2 garments (for each bear) to make sure there is enough to complete the bear. The second garment can be used for the vest (and hat for the girl bear), if there is enough fabric. Please wash the chosen fabrics and place in a zip lock bag with your name, phone number and address written on the bag. Please contact the Volunteer Coordinator to arrange a pickup. *One bear per family, additional Memory Bears can be ordered personally.

Essential Oils

Our staff can provide or Volunteers can bring Essential Oils to our patients. We have oils that can be used to help with stress, sleep, support healthy breathing, healthy digestion and ease discomfort in the form of roller ball bottles, and inhalers. If interested, please talk to your volunteer or the Volunteer Coordinator, case manager or social worker.