Dementia/Alzheimer’s
Volunteering with Patients in a Facility Setting
Death and Dying
Family Dynamics/Communication
Patient Care, Symptom Management, Pain Control
Medicare/Medicaid Benefit
Spiritual Care
Grief and Loss
Boundaries and Self-Care
Disease Information and Diagnosis
General Hospice Information
Dementia/Alzheimer’s
What is Dementia?
A training video defining dementia and its effect on daily life.
Working with Dementia – series of 6 training videos
A series of modules for hospice volunteers that describes how to care for people with dementia, including videos exploring potential scenarios.
What is Alzheimer’s?
A video that analyzes how Alzheimer’s Disease affects the brain and the different stages associated with the illness.
Communication with Dementia
Tips for a caretaker to better communicate with an individual diagnosed with Dementia.
Communication and Alzheimer’s
Talking points for communicating with an individual suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease at various stages.
10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s
The Alzheimer’s Association has developed a checklist that can help identify if episodes of memory loss are within the “normal range” or something more serious.
Dementia Factsheet
A factsheet by the Alzheimer’s Society outlining the symptoms and causes of Dementia.
Caregiver’s Guide to Understanding Dementia Behaviors
The Family Caregivers Alliance shares information on tips for communicating with someone diagnosed with Dementia and what common behaviors to expect.
Training the Volunteers
This packet provides an informational training for volunteers to make sure they are knowledgeable about all aspects of Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.
Volunteering with Patients in a Facility Setting
Time…To Help Others
A video of Hospice Volunteers sharing their personal experiences to inspire volunteer opportunities.
Volunteers of Hospice
A documentary that tells the stories of hospice volunteers to encourage a greater understanding of hospice.
Hospice Volunteer Video
A video discussing how volunteers can support patients and families.
Hospice Volunteer Roles
A video that explains the various ways Hospice Volunteers directly and indirectly support patients.
What Kinds of Things Do Hospice Volunteers Do?
An article that explains different types of volunteer roles and what each position entails.
Free Training Resources – NHPCO
A link to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization free educational resources.
Social Activities
Working with patients to stimulate memory, focus attention, and provide social interaction for people with advanced dementia.
Become a Volunteer
Volunteers fill roles that range from direct contact with patients to providing clerical and fundraising support for the organization.
Being a Hospice Volunteer
A published article that summarizes the experiences of a hospice volunteer.
Hospice Values Competency
The values and definitions of palliative care to help volunteers better understand the mission of hospice.
Home Health United Hospice Volunteer Description of Duties
Hospice Volunteers provide services to individuals with a terminal illness and/or administrative support to the overall program.
Hospice Volunteers: Helping People Live
Hospice Volunteers provide companionship to people living with serious illness and help family caregivers in a variety of ways.
Myths & Facts About Hospice Care
Clarifying a series of myths surrounding hospice care.
Self-Study Program for Hospice Employees
This manual addresses core concepts and topics that are known to assist someone in their work within the hospice and palliative care.
Death and Dying
Hospice Volunteers – Bereavement
A volunteer describes the reward of helping people get through the difficult experiences of end-of-life.
A guide to understanding end-of-life signs & symptoms
An educational guide to help caregivers understand the physical changes of the end-of-life process, including the emotional and spiritual changes.
Guide to the Dying Process
Information to help a caregiver prepare and anticipate symptoms that are indicative of death.
Preparing for Death – A Guide for Caregivers
An article by Victoria Hospice about near-death symptoms and how to better accommodate the patient.
Helping Children Cope with Death and Dying
Resources for adults to effectively communicate the implications of death to a child.
The Dying Process: A Guide for Caregivers
This guide discusses both the physical symptoms of dying and the psychological issues that accompany the dying process.
Narratives of Hospice Volunteers: Perspectives on Death and Dying
Their unique experiences illustrate the effect that death can have on a person’s life.
Family Dynamics/Communication
Supporting the Bereaved
Tips on how to support a bereaved person and actively listen.
Care Demands by Families and Family Healthcare Proxies
A dilemma for palliative care and hospice care staff.
Honoring Cultural Diversity at the End of Life
A published article discussing the importance of culture and its influence on end-of-life care.
Dealing with Families in Conflict
Hospice Staff roles in protecting patient and family interests.
Your Conversation Starter Kit
The Conversation Project is dedicated to helping people talk about their wishes for end-of-life care.
Your Conversation Starter Kit – Alzheimer’s Disease
This resource, although created for families, will help caregivers better understand family dynamics as they relate to Alzheimer’s and end-of-life.
Cultural Influences on End-Of-Life Care
This extensive pamphlet outlines just how much culture influences a person’s end-of-life care.
Gather Round: Understanding How Culture Frames End-of-Life Choices for Patients and Families
The purpose of this information is to point to ways these professionals can work more collaboratively with patients and families.
Patient Care, Symptom Management, Pain Control
Palliative Care – Symptom Management
A video outlining common symptoms and methods to assist a patient.
Principles of Hospice and Palliative Care
The principles of hospice palliative care unite the care philosophies and goals of the World Health Organization, the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association, and the National Hospice Palliative Care Organization..
Hospice Pain Management
A blog post about care principles and pain management being the primary goal of hospice
Understanding Palliative/Supportive Care
This fact sheet summarizes the key features of care and clarifies some misconceptions that prevent people from considering palliative care.
Hospice Caregiver Guide
This resource introduces the various methods and guidelines for volunteers to ensure a high standard of care to all patients.
Hydration and Dehydration: Understanding the Importance of Fluids
How to treat a common symptom often experienced by patients receiving hospice care.
Hospice Caregivers’ Experiences with Pain Management
Patients often say barriers to effective pain management include communication problems with providers. This article outlines some of those experiences.
Medicare/Medicaid Benefit
Understanding the Medicare Hospice Benefit
A video that delineates the hospice benefit guaranteed by Medicare.
Medicare – Alzheimer’s Association
A link to the Alzheimer’s Association that provides all important information regarding Medicare.
Medicare Hospice Benefits
This official government document includes information about the Medicare Hospice Benefit.
Volunteers
A power point presentation outlining the Medicare Conditions of Participation
Hospice Policy Compendium
The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization outlines the Medicare Hospice Benefit and related regulations.
Hospice Toolkit
This booklet discusses the Medicaid hospice benefit and the importance of providing documentation to support medical necessity and proper level of care.
The Medicare Hospice Benefit
A factsheet with a brief summary of the Medicare Hospice Benefit.
FAQ’s Hospice Volunteers Regularly Ask
Explanations for common questions Hospice Volunteers have surrounding the Medicare Hospice Benefit.
Spiritual Care
Massage Therapy and the Hospice Patient
A massage therapist distinguishing the blurry lines of spiritual care in hospice.
Practicing Mindfulness to Relieve Stress
Introducing alternative and spiritual methods to relieve stress, for both patient and caregiver.
Mindfulness in Hospice and Palliative Care with Ellen Langer, PhD
This session will help hospice and palliative care professionals understand and develop a practice of mindfulness, ensuring that they provide care with an interdisciplinary approach.
Sage Videos (17 video playlist)
A diverse group of rabbis and religious leaders speak about the end-of-life issues and how they integrate Jewish tradition into their own teaching and care for others.
Catholic Teaching on End-of-Life Decision-Making
A Catholic guide to the complex challenges of end-of-life decision-making.
Culturally competent care at the end of life: a Hindu perspective
This article outlines the role of the Hindu religion at the end- of- life care and beliefs.
Understanding Hospice Spiritual Care
Spirituality is an important aspect of end-of-life care for many hospice patients, providing care with a well-rounded understanding will be a useful tool for volunteers.
Cultural considerations for end of life care
Hospice is an important aspect of palliative care and this resource summarizes the role of different religions on giving care.
Grief and Loss
Grief
Defining grief and the common emotions and physical symptoms associated with loss.
Children and Grief/Loss
Resources for adults to better support grieving children.
Ted Talks about Grief
6 videos on coping with grief from a variety of perspectives.
Understanding Grief
This short video features input from professionals and experts in the field of bereavement support.
How Grief Feels / Robbie Stamp / TEDxLondon
Robbie talks about the experience of grief, how it changes our perception of the world, and how we can support those who are grieving.
Types of Grief and Loss
Explaining different types of grief.
Handbook for Mortals
An online edition of this book serves as an authoritative consumer guide to end-of-life care.
Grief
Hospice Foundation of America shares resources on a wide variety of topics related to hospice care.
Boundaries and Self-Care
Self-Care and Boundaries
The narrator educates on ways to recognize boundaries and how to ensure that caregivers take time to care for themselves.
Boundaries and Self-Care
An expert addresses the pitfalls of getting “too close” to the patient as well as strategies for self-care.
Lifting Patients, Safely
A resource to ensure caregivers do not injure themselves while striving to provide excellent hospice care.
A Delicate Balance
Explaining self-care for the hospice professional.
Managing Stress for Hospice Professionals
American Hospice shares various ways to maintain boundaries and control levels of stress.
A Self-Care Plan for Hospice Workers
This reflection recalls important tools for maintaining the balance between the output and input of energy in a caregiver’s professional and personal life.
Caregiver Wellness
It is important for caregivers to consistently be aware of their own state of well-being and this resource serves as a guide to maintaining that healthy balance.
Coaching Professional Boundaries for Caregivers
Guidelines for healthy relationships between patients and caregivers is outlined in this article.
Great Tips for Caregivers
An accumulation of quick tips for caregivers to serve as a reminder to prioritize self-care.
Understanding Professional Boundaries for Hospice Volunteers
A self-study of boundaries to maintain a healthy experience as a hospice volunteer.
Disease Information and Diagnosis
Common Hospice Conditions
This article explains the various conditions and diseases the lead patients into hospice.
Heart Failure
The National Institute of Health shares all aspects of information related to heart failure, a disease common among hospice patients.
Symptoms and Diagnosis – ALS
Basic information about ALS to help volunteers be more well-rounded in their knowledge.
Common Hospice Medications
This article details the common medications prescribed to hospice patients and their individual purposes.
Keys to Caregiving
The American Parkinson Disease Association providing information on topics related to Parkinson’s Disease.
Using Stress Management & Behavioral Activation
This power point strives to teach providers important skills so that they can use them in their everyday employment situation.
General Hospice Information
History of Hospice
A historical perspective of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
Lessons from a Hospice Nurse: Alia Indrawan (Tedx Talks)
A healing practitioner who previously worked as a Hospice Nurse, helping people with a terminal illness die gracefully.
Types of Hospice Care Services
Information on different types of hospice care.
What is Hospice Care?
A part of a video series from NHPCO that explains general information regarding hospice care.
Resources for Healthcare Professionals
Virtual training and courses related to end of life conversations and care.
Hospice Foundation of America Video
A video from the Hospice Foundation to normalize hospice and show the benefits of this type of care.
Starting the Conversation about End-of-Life Care
How to address hospice and end-of-life care to ensure all options are discussed.
The Conversation Project
An organization that is dedicated to helping people talk about their wishes for end-of-life care.
What are Palliative Care and Hospice Care?
The National Institute on Aging shares information to distinguish between palliative and hospice care.
FAQ’s for New Hospice Volunteers
Resources to help prepare hospice volunteers to provide excellent patient care.
Facts and Figures: Hospice Care in America
NHPCO Facts and Figures: Hospice Care in America provides an annual overview of hospice care delivery.
Understanding Hospice
This factsheet answers common questions about hospice.
Hospice
An informational article about the history, philosophy, and other general resources related to hospice care.