Ideal Qualities of A Hospice Volunteer
- Common sense
- Intelligence
- Ability to evaluate situations, asses needs, make decisions and ask questions
- Resourcefulness
- Ability to meet crises
- A good sense of timing
- Tact
- Is a good listener, able to tolerate repetition
- Is a good talker
- Likes people
- Capacity to be nurturing
- Compassion
- Openness
- Empathy
- Objectivity
- Sensitivity
- Patience
- Positive approach to life
- Maturity
- Level headedness
- Emotional stability
- Honesty
- Nonjudgmental attitude
- Strong stomach
- Dependability neatness and good hygiene
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Flexibility
- Availability
- Commitment to the program
- Ability to work with a team
- Ability to accept suggestions from team members
- Sense of self
- Ability to keep personal problems out of hospice work
- Strength from having survived loss/ not currently acutely grieving
- Balanced personal life
- Ability to set limits for oneself
- Ability to make contact and also to distance (able to handle loss of patients, to avoid rescuing, being caught in family differences, etc.)
- Sustaining faith or philosophy, and is comfortable with that of others
- A sense of humor – warped, preferably …