Gentiva Hospice is a provider of hospice care for people who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness for which there is no cure, illnesses which would cause a person to pass away within six or fewer months. Gentiva Hospice provides support for the patient and his/her family by using a team approach: doctor, nurse, social worker, chaplain, home health aide, and volunteer. We attend to the emotional, spiritual and physical needs so that patients and their families may have the best quality of care with the time the patient has left.
Organization Address
800 Enterprise Drive
Oak Brook, IL 60523
OR
85 West Algonquin Road
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
Name and Position of Contact Person
Steven Dickens, Volunteer Coordinator
Phone Number
(847) 439-0348
Email Address
Website Address
Days/Hours Available for Service Learners
Service learners have the flexibility to visit their patients whenever their schedule allows. Most patients reside in nursing homes and are generally available for visits at any time, making it easy for you to plan around your other commitments.
The initial interview, paperwork, and orientation will take place at our office, Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and p.m. Once these steps are completed, you can coordinate your visits directly, ensuring your volunteer visits fit seamlessly into your routine.
Description of Service Learner Role
There are many volunteer opportunities with Gentiva Hospice in order to help guide students in receiving As a hospice volunteer students will be matched with a patient, introduced to the patient by the volunteer coordinator, and given background information about the patient. Students then visit their patient as a "patient visiting friend" to offer companionship and socialization. Activities with your patient might include: meaningful conversations, reading out loud, coloring or doing craft projects, watching TV or a movie together, playing games, putting together puzzles, looking at photos, listening to music, painting, completing word searches or crossword puzzles, taking a walk, sitting outside, putting on nail polish, sorting objects, participating in facility activities, or sharing a skill, talent, or gift you have!
Organization Requirements
Continue Visiting Beyond the Required Hours: While we ask volunteers to complete a minimum of 20 hours, we kindly request that you continue visiting your assigned patient until the semester ends or your patient is no longer on our service. End-of-life patients deeply value the friendships they form with their volunteers, and abrupt endings can be confusing and distressing due to the cognitive challenges caused by their illness. Your continued presence can bring them comfort and stability during this time.
Apply by February 15 (spring semester); September 15 (fall semester): To ensure you have enough time to complete onboarding and your required hours, please submit your application no later than February 15/September 15. The onboarding process typically takes about two weeks, so applying after this date may not leave enough time for you to get all your hours in.
Scheduling Visits: To provide the best care for our patients while maintaining flexibility for your schedule, we ask that you visit your patient no more than once per week and for no longer than two hours per visit.
Eligibility and Requirements: Volunteers must be at least 18 years old. Medicare and Gentiva Hospice require all volunteers to complete the following steps before beginning service:
- Background check and fingerprinting
- Drug screening
- General physical exam
- TB test via QuantiFERON Gold blood draw
These screenings are provided at no cost to you. Additionally, all volunteers must complete required training to ensure they feel confident and prepared to support their patients.
Number of Placements Available
Open
Contact Information
Career Services
Student Services Center (SSC), Room 3373
Regular Hours:
Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Email: csc@cod.edu
Phone: (630) 942-2230
Fax: (630) 942-4596
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