Patient Support Volunteers

Provide a wide range of practical assistance--from companionship for patients, to respite time for caregivers, food shopping, light housekeeping, meal preparation, and much more.  Specialized volunteers offer patients their professional skills. They provide therapeutic massage, home maintenance and repair, haircuts, life review videos, notary public services and more.

Some volunteers train to be Pet Pal visitors, bringing their ARF-certified pets to visit patients in their homes or at Bruns House inpatient facility.  Others are on-call bedside companions who take one-time assignments to provide caregiver relief and companionship for a patient.

Training is required for all Patient Support volunteers.  Please email or call our Patient Volunteer Program Manager at (925) 887-5678 for training dates or more information.

Specialized Program Volunteer Opportunities are available for those who have completed the basic Patient Support training.  Additional training specific to the needs of those being served is required for the following three programs.

Bruns House Volunteers

Perform a variety of administrative duties to support our Bruns House acute care facility-- such as answering phones, greeting visitors, running errands and inputting data into the computer.  Volunteers also serve as bedside companions for patients who are alone or restless.  Other volunteers train to participate in the Petpals program, bringing their ARF certified, trained pets to visit patients at the House.

Vigil Program Volunteers

Vigil Program Volunteers are at the bedside of actively dying patients. These specifically trained patient support volunteers help Hospice of the East Bay support its patients every step of the way by bringing relief to family members who are unable to be present for the death of their loved one.  And, most importantly, they help to ensure patients that they are not alone.

Bereavement Volunteers

Volunteers receive training about grief, loss and communication.  This enables them to provide support and education for 13 months, by phone or with personal visits, to bereaved family members who have experienced the death of a loved one.

Administrative Volunteers

Work in the office.  They answer the phone at the reception desk and are often the first “face” of hospice when people visit or ask for information or assistance.  They may also perform some computer input and various clerical tasks, working with our onsite office staff.

Thrift Shop Volunteers

Help in one of our six thrift shops (in Dublin, Alamo, Concord, Antioch, Danville, and Walnut Creek) by sorting, pricing, preparing and selling merchandise.  The thrift stores are a significant source of income for Hospice Foundation of the East Bay, largely because of the work and dedication of the volunteers.  Some thrift shop volunteers in a group called Fancy Us! also enjoy putting on fashion shows, modeling lightly used, top quality clothing at community group events.

Special Events Volunteers: Work with Foundation staff to raise funds to support the programs and services of Hospice.  This is done by planning and working at estate sales, golf tournaments, auctions, health fairs, receptions and more; depending on interest and time availability.

Other Community Volunteers: Beyond the volunteer opportunities listed above, others in the community choose to support our mission and raise funds by organizing and running their own events for the benefit of Hospice.  Individuals sponsor memorial events, numerous country clubs sponsor golf tournaments, women’s clubs hold luncheons and fashion shows, and Kiwanis, Rotary and other civic and professional groups hold special functions to benefit Hospice. Friends of Hospice groups in Orinda, Rossmoor, and San Ramon Valley sponsor many activities throughout the year to raise funds. 

The funds that are contributed from all of these events help to pay for services provided to patients who have no insurance, or insufficient insurance, and to cover the cost of essential services which are not covered by any insurance.  This makes it possible for us to offer our services to ALL medically qualified patients, without regard for their financial status.   

For more information on volunteer opportunities or to receive a volunteer application, please call Hospice of the East Bay at (925) 887-5678 and ask for the Volunteer Department or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Click link below to download Volunteer Application

Volunteer Application