Home respite visit volunteers

Home respite volunteers visit with patients in their home so that family caregivers can take a break. Respite volunteers develop a routine and rapport with each family and patient as they provide support.

While each situation is different, supporting a family may include:

  • A time commitment of up to 4 hours per week, or 2 2-hour visits per week

  • Emotional support to the patient, caregiver, and family

  • Physical assistance for a patient during visits, such as assisting in transferring or moving the patient, or assisting the patient while walking

  • Optional: Light housekeeping (vacuum or dishes), laundry, cooking, or other simple meal preparation

  • Companionship: reading a book aloud, looking at pictures, listening to music, watching a movie or TV together, or sitting outside and enjoying good weather

  • Caregiver may be in the home or may leave at the time of your volunteering

  • Providing a presence so the family feels secure leaving the patient for a few hours

Friendly Visit volunteers

Friendly Visit volunteers provide friendly visits to Kaiser Hospice patients living in residential facilities such as assisted living facilities, nursing homes, or adult foster homes. The patient’s family and friends may live far away, or the patient may not get many visitors. Volunteers generally develop a routine and come 1 to 2 times a week for hour-long visits.

Friendly Visit volunteering varies by situation and may include:

  • A time commitment of up to 2 1-hour visits a week

  • Taking patients for a walk, or assisting with walking or a wheelchair

  • Companionship: Reading a book aloud, looking at pictures, playing games, talking with patients about their interests and life history, listening to music, watching a movie or TV together, or sitting outside enjoying good weather

  • Presence: Holding the hand of a patient who is unable to communicate