James River Home Health & Hospice welcomes volunteers who want to make a meaningful difference in their community. Our volunteers provide companionship to patients, respite for family caregivers, administrative support, and bereavement assistance. No medical experience required, just compassion, reliability, and a few hours of your time.
We provide comprehensive training, flexible scheduling, and ongoing support so you can volunteer with confidence. Whether you’re retired, working, or a student, there’s a role that fits your schedule and skills.
Why Volunteer with James River?
Your Presence Makes All the Difference
Hospice care is not just doing symptom management. It’s also about ensuring patients feel seen, valued, and connected during one of life’s most vulnerable chapters, and sometimes, the most powerful thing you can offer isn’t clinical expertise. It’s your presence.
As a volunteer, you become part of a patient’s support circle. You might sit quietly with someone who just wants company. You might give a family caregiver a much-needed break to run errands or rest. You might help our team with administrative tasks that free up nurses to spend more time at bedsides. Every role matters. Every hour you give creates space for comfort, dignity, and peace.
Volunteer Roles & Opportunities
How You Can Help
We offer a variety of volunteer roles designed to match your interests, skills, and availability. Whether you want direct patient interaction or prefer behind-the-scenes support, there’s a meaningful way for you to contribute.
- Patient Companionship & Friendly Visits Spend time with hospice patients who may be isolated or simply enjoy conversation and company.
- Rest and Support for Family Caregivers Give family caregivers a break by staying with their loved one for a few hours.
- Bereavement Support Help families navigate grief after the loss of a loved one, with activities such as writing sympathy cards, making follow-up calls, assisting with bereavement mailings, and more.
- Administrative & Office Support Assist with filing, data entry, mailings, phone support, event coordination, and other tasks that keep our hospice running smoothly.
- Special Skills & Projects Do you have talents in music, art, pet therapy, gardening, hairdressing, or other areas? We welcome volunteers who can bring joy and comfort through creative activities, legacy projects, or specialized skills.
- Community Outreach & Education Help us raise awareness about hospice care by representing James River at health fairs, community events, speaking engagements, or educational presentations.
- Veterans Support Provide companionship, honor their service, and connect with them through shared experiences.
What We Provide
Training, Support, and Flexibility
We know that volunteering is a generous gift of your time, and we take that seriously. You’ll never be asked to do something you’re not trained or comfortable doing, and you’ll always have support from our volunteer coordinator and clinical team. We’ll provide:
- Comprehensive training
- Ongoing support
- Flexible scheduling
- Meaningful assignments
- Recognition and appreciation
Who Can Volunteer?
Everyone Has Something to Offer
You don’t need a medical background or healthcare experience to volunteer with hospice. What you need is compassion, reliability, respect for confidentiality, and a genuine desire to help.
We welcome volunteers who are:
- Retirees looking for meaningful ways to give back
- Working professionals who want to volunteer on weekends or evenings
- College students interested in healthcare, social work, counseling, or ministry
- Stay-at-home parents seeking flexible volunteer opportunities
- Veterans who want to support fellow veterans
- Faith community members offering spiritual presence and support
- Anyone with a caring heart and time to share
How to Get Started
Here’s how to get started volunteering.
- Step 1: Apply
- Step 2: Interview & Background Check
- Step 3: Training & Orientation
- Step 4: Placement
- Step 5: Start Volunteering
- Step 6: Grow & Reflect