Honoring Life's Final Moments with dignity and care.
Can you sit with someone in silence and still make a profound difference?
Do you have the heart to walk beside patients and families at the end of life's journey?
Would you like to be the person who brings peace and dignity to a patient's final hours?
End-of-Life Companion Volunteers (Vigil Volunteers) provide calm, compassionate presence to patients in their final hours, offering comfort, companionship, and support to those who may be alone or to families navigating the uncertainty of the dying process. Through quiet presence, attentive listening, and steady communication with hospice staff, Vigil Volunteers help create a peaceful environment while honoring the dignity, needs, and wishes of each patient. Their role brings reassurance, humanity, and gentle guidance during one of life’s most sacred transitions.
See below for full position description.
Opportunities in the following counties:
Sioux, Lyon, Osceola, O'Brien, Clay, Dickinson, Palo Alto, Emmet, Kossuth
This volunteer opportunity is flexible to your own schedule, availability, and level of comfort. No level of commitment is too small.
TITLE
Vigil Volunteer
REPORTS TO
Volunteer Coordinator but may receive oversight of duties and assignments from another member of
the IDG (on-call personnel)
DESCRIPTION
The Vigil Volunteer offers companionship, comfort and presence to patients during the time
immediately prior to their death. Support can be provided to patients who have no family to be with
them or to provide support and guidance to families and caregivers, helping to relieve the unknown; this
may also include staff if the patient resides at a facility. Support is provided in a variety of ways,
including being a calm presence, talking and listening to the family/caregivers, or sharing silence.
QUALIFICATIONS
The Vigil Volunteer must have an understanding of Hospice philosophy and be familiar with the dying
process, i.e., recognize when death is imminent. He/she will receive additional education/training on
anticipatory grief, empathetic presence, reflective listening, and the rights of the dying. He/she must be
a strong communicator, be comfortable around death and be able to maintain composure in stressful
situations. He/she must also be willing to be called for assignment on short-notice and have some
flexibility with scheduling. Additionally, he/she must:
1. Be at least 18 years of age
2. Complete the Direct Care Volunteer training and orientation (including all necessary paperwork
and education)
3. Complete additional Vigil Volunteer training (4 hours), including review and signature of the
Vigil Volunteer Job Description and the Vigil Volunteer Orientation Verification form
RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Demonstrate understanding of the dying process and ability to provide compassionate support
to the patient (and family, if present)
2. Communicate patient status and provide update to the appropriate IDG/on-call staff member
after each visit
3. Report any concerns, problems, or sudden changes in patient, family and caregiver status to the
appropriate IDG/on-call staff member immediately
4. If in a facility, check in with the facility staff upon arrival, and then again when leaving
5. Participate in Volunteer support or peer groups and/or training with other Volunteers
6. Communicate timely when a Vigil Volunteer request is received (even if unavailable to make
visit)
7. Maintain regular communication with the Volunteer Coordinator (VC)
8. Function within authorized activities according to the individual’s ability, knowledge, and
training. Does not assume tasks or decisions which are outside the scope of the Vigil Volunteer
or are within the domain of other persons, e.g., family, caregiver, hospice personnel or facility
staff
9. Document and record hours of service and return Volunteer Visit Notes to the Volunteer
Coordinator (VC) within a timely manner, i.e., 24-48 hours
10. Provide update on patient status, including activities performed by Vigil Volunteer, to the next
Vigil Volunteer and/or Volunteer Coordinator (VC)
11. Maintain patient, family and caregiver confidentiality and abide by federal regulations related to
privacy practices, e.g., HIPAA
12. Assure for compliance with local, state, and federal laws, Medicare regulations, and established
personnel policies and procedures
13. Meet or exceed delivery of Company Service Standards and operate under the company’s Code
of Conduct
14. Be evaluated annually based on competency and performance
15. Participate in continuing education and training, including mandatory annual in-services (HIPAA,
Tuberculosis, Emergency Preparedness, etc.
