Grief Support Volunteer
You’ll make phone calls to do weekly or monthly check-ins with loved ones of the deceased, as a part of the year-long support Hospice of Michigan offers to loved ones following a patient’s death. You aren’t a therapeutic professional, but you are a warm presence: a hand to hold and a shoulder to cry on. Hospice of Michigan will provide you with a call list that includes some background information on the family member who passed. This service is available to the entire community, not just family members of Hospice of Michigan patients. You can make the calls from home, but you’re also welcome, if you prefer, to call from Hospice of Michigan’s offices at 989 Spaulding SE in Ada. You can also assist at memorial services or community education events, if you’d like.
- Commitment
- 2-4 hours/month, as you’re available
- Requirements
- 18+; pass a background check; a waiting period of one year after your own loved one dies
- Neighborhood
- Your own neighborhood
- Location
- Your own home
Is This the Right Fit for Me?
You are a patient, empathetic listener who understands there is no right way to grieve. Everyone’s process looks different, and you are willing to create space for each person you encounter to explore what grief looks like for them. While it’s challenging to not know “the right thing to say,” you’re comfortable being a welcoming presence, listening to the happy memories and the difficult stages of losing a loved one.
About Hospice of Michigan
Hospice of Michigan ensures quality of life, comfort, and peace for their patients and provides support for patients’ loved ones during their end-of-life experience. HOS serves everyone in the greater Grand Rapids community who needs and seeks care; they strive to improve the state of comfort care.
Contact the Organization
If you’re ready to ask some questions and get started, contact the Hospice of Michigan directly.
What to Expect
Contact Claire to ask questions and learn more about the role. Then, fill out the online application. Once Claire receives it, she’ll reach out for some paperwork details: background check, driver’s license, etc. You’ll be invited to a six-hour orientation from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., which may be on a weekday or weekend, depending on volunteer demand. After that, you’ll receive a welcome packet in a week or two with your volunteer badge and instructions for TB testing and fingerprinting. Once those two steps are complete, you’ll be ready to start!