Through We Honor Veterans, many community hospice providers have implemented a Veteran-to-Veteran Volunteer Program as an innovative model for serving Veterans at the end of life. The Veteran-to-Veteran Volunteer Program aims to pair recruited Veteran Volunteers with hospice patients who have been identified as Veterans and are interested in receiving visits from a Veteran volunteer. Veteran Volunteers have the unique ability to relate to and connect with Veteran patients, thereby creating an environment where life review and healing may occur.
Recruiting Veteran-to-Veteran Volunteers
WHV partners rely on a variety of techniques to recruit Veteran volunteers. Strategies for Veteran volunteer recruitment may include:
- Word of mouth – Ask your organization’s staff and existing volunteers if they have Veteran family members or friends who are interested in volunteering.
- Spread the word – Utilize internet and print media to share your organization’s mission to recruit Veteran volunteers. Organizations can develop fliers, create social media posts, and utilize volunteer recruitment websites such as VolunteerMatch.org.
- Collaborate with Veterans groups – connect and build your organization’s relationship with Veteran Service Organizations, VA facilities, and other Veterans groups in your community. Through dialogue, partnership, and presentations, your organization can share information about hospice, describe the important role of Veteran volunteers, and express the need for additional Veteran volunteers.
Utilizing Veteran-to-Veteran Volunteers
Veteran volunteers can provide support to Veteran hospice patients and contribute to your organization’s WHV program in a variety of ways, including:
- Visit Veteran patients – Veteran volunteers can provide Veteran patients with companionship and facilitate life review. While in-person visits are recommended, organizations may accommodate interested Veteran volunteers who prefer to connect with patients and families via telephone or video call.
- Participate in ceremonies of recognition – Veteran volunteers play a pivotal role in ceremonies of recognition. Such ceremonies can occur in patient homes to express gratitude for a patient’s service or can be held at facilities to engage the broader Veteran community.
- Benefits assistance – Skilled Veteran volunteers may also assist Veteran patients and family members in understanding and navigating VA benefits.
Supporting Veteran-to-Veteran Volunteers
WHV partners recognize their Veteran volunteers military service and dedication to supporting their Veteran peers at end of life through:
- Training – Veteran volunteers should be trained according to organization policy and participate in Veteran-specific trainings. Comprehensive training provides Veteran volunteers with knowledge and confidence to engage as a Veteran hospice volunteer.
- Acknowledge and express gratitude – Organizations should recognize their Veteran Volunteers through in person and virtual acknowledgments.
- Offer support – Veteran volunteers should be provided with opportunities to participate in team support meetings. Organizations should conduct regular check-ins with Veteran volunteers and monitor these volunteers for negative reactions.
Veteran-to-Veteran Volunteer Program Resources
The following resources were created by WHV hospice partners to aid in Veteran volunteer recruitment and training. WHV partners can review the below resources and take inspiration to influence the creation of their own materials.
Veteran-to-Veteran Volunteer Recruitment Materials
- Rural Veteran Hospice Volunteer Interest Form and Vets Caring for Vets Brochure – created by Connecticut Association for Home Care and Hospice (CAHCH)
- Hospice Veteran Volunteer Job Description – created by Hospice of Southwest Iowa
- Vet-to-Vet Volunteer Program Brochure – created by Hospice of Southwest Iowa
Veteran-to-Veteran Volunteer Training Materials
- Vet-to-Vet Volunteer Training Manual and Vet to Vet Volunteer Program Overview PPT and Training Evaluation – created by Hospice of Southwest Iowa
- Rural Veteran Hospice Volunteer Training Overview and Training Evaluation Tool – created by Connecticut Association for Home Care and Hospice (CAHCH)
- Veteran to Veteran Volunteer Training PPT – created by Hospice of Siouxland
