Volunteer Training & Requirements

If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer for Hospice of Michigan and meet the requirements detailed below, you will receive 6 hours of general training, and throughout the year, you will receive ongoing education in interest-specific modules you select, such as pediatric volunteering, grief support volunteering, veteran-to-veteran volunteer visits and more. Depending on how you’d like to serve, Hospice of Michigan will guide your training and support you in your particular volunteer role.

General topics covered during volunteer training include:

Introduction to hospice and palliative care
Active listening and ways to improve communication
Protection of patient/family rights, including confidentiality
Knowledge of advance directives and powers of attorney
Respecting cultural differences
Physiological, psychosocial, and spiritual aspects of end-of-life care
The healing process

VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS

Before submitting your volunteer application, please take a moment to consider whether volunteering with Hospice of Michigan is right for you:

Volunteers are asked to commit at least one year of service to Hospice of Michigan. Continuity of care is important to our patients and families; therefore, Hospice of Michigan volunteer opportunities are considered long-term, and not suited for those looking for temporary or summer-only volunteering.
Because our patients reside throughout the state of Michigan, volunteer opportunities are best suited to those with their own transportation. We cannot guarantee that volunteer opportunities will be available on a bus route that works for you.
Volunteer opportunities are best for those with morning and afternoon availability, as that is when patients and families are most in need of visitors.
All volunteers are required to attend a one-day orientation class, offered on a quarterly basis.
All volunteers providing support for patients are required to have annual TB testing to meet compliance requirements.
The State of Michigan Department of Community Health requires various criminal background checks for hospice volunteers, and that all volunteers are fingerprinted.

Waiting period after a death

Experience has taught us that for those who have lost someone close to them, a one-year waiting period after the death is best. If someone close to you has died, Hospice of Michigan is very sorry about your loss. You have a lot to offer as a volunteer…we look forward to connecting with you after the waiting period.

Training Locations

Jump to Southeast Michigan, Northern Michigan, West Michigan

Southeast Michigan

Serving Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair, and Wayne counties.
Volunteer Program Manager
Ruth Moore-Lilly, 248-387-6019 or email rmoore-lilly@hom.org
SOUTHFIELD OFFICE
400 Galleria Office Centre, #400
Southfield, MI 481034
MACOMB OFFICE
37399 Garfield Road, Ste. 208
Clinton Twp, MI 48036
DEARBORN OFFICE
3200 Greenfield Road #250
Dearborn, MI 48120

For interest in the Ann Arbor area, please visit our partner organization, Arbor Hospice, at https://www.arborhospice.org/volunteer/ or contact Ruth Moore-Lilly at 248-794-0523 or email r moore-lilly@hom.org

Northern Michigan

Serving Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Clare, Crawford, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Missaukee, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon and Wexford counties.
Volunteer Program Manager
Kathy Lietaert, 231-779-5409 or klietaer@hom.org
ALPENA OFFICE
199 Long Rapids Rd
Alpena, MI 49707
CADILLAC OFFICE
932 N. Mitchell
Cadillac, MI 49601
CHARLEVOIX OFFICE
201 S State St, Ste 7
Charlevoix, MI 49720
GAYLORD OFFICE
830 S. Otsego
Gaylord, MI 49735
TRAVERSE CITY OFFICE
10850 E Traverse Hwy., Suite #3325
Traverse City, MI 49684

West Michigan

Serving Allegan, Barry, Gratiot, Kent, Ionia, Isabella, Lake, Manistee, Mason, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola, and Ottawa counties
Volunteer Program Manager
Lauren Becker-Barkman, 616-250-9110 or lbecker-barkman@hom.org
BIG RAPIDS OFFICE
400 Perry
Big Rapids, MI 49307
GRAND RAPIDS/ADA OFFICE
989 Spaulding Ave SE
Ada, MI 49301
LUDINGTON OFFICE
5177 W. US Highway 10, Ste B
Ludington, MI 49431
MUSKEGON OFFICE
1675 E. Mt. Garfield Rd., Ste 175
Muskegon, MI 49444