This post was written by Alison Eckert, volunteer coordinator, Parkview Hospice.
Each year, the third week of April marks Volunteer Appreciation Week. During this observance, we recognize Parkview Hospice volunteers and the essential role they play on the hospice team, delivering care and support to our patients and staff.
The ways they give
Parkview Hospice volunteers generously donate their time and talents across many roles including:
Companionship – Volunteers who visit and sit with patients provide added comfort and support or serve as a presence when family cannot be there.
Caregiver respite – Volunteers allow loved ones to have a moment away when needed or check in to ensure they are emotionally supported, even after the patient has passed.
Pet therapy – Some of our volunteers even bring along their furry friends to share the many benefits of animal companionship with patients.
Veteran recognition – We have veteran volunteers who conduct special Pinning Ceremonies to honor our veteran patients and thank them for their service to our country.
Administrative support – Volunteers who enjoy organizing and working in the office help with administrative tasks like preparing bereavement mailers or cards on the anniversary of a death.
Creative gifts – Others are generous in sharing their unique talents, creating special mementos like glass angels, afghans and quilts, or memory bears.
Reflections on their service
Our volunteers have a heart for serving others. While patients and their families benefit greatly from the time they give, the experiences they share make it clear that this time spent benefits them as well. Direct patient volunteers serve as companions for hospice patients. Their visits often help patients who are lonely, anxious or miss social connection. Lynn Shire, hospice volunteer, shared a story about a patient she visited in the dementia unit at a nursing home, who she will never forget.
"Sometimes when I visited, she was upset and begged me to take her home. I found that I could take her mind off her worries by talking about what recipes she used to cook or about Elvis’ music, which she loved. But sometimes she could not be comforted. After trying different things, I finally found two that would calm and comfort her. I would gently massage her hands with lotion and softly sing hymns with her. I say "with" because she would sing with me. That finally took her mind off her troubles, at least for the time I was there. I became very close to her, and even though she couldn't have told you my name or why I was visiting, she was always so happy to see me and would reach out her arms for a hug.”
When a patient transitions to hospice, we prioritize the family and caregiver’s well-being as well. Volunteers offer Caregiver Relief visits, giving families a much-needed break from the 24/7 care they often provide for their loved ones. During this time, a volunteer will sit with the patient while the caregiver takes a nap, runs errands, or goes to an appointment. They may also choose to spend some time with friends and family that they don’t get to see as often as they once did. Jeanie Estep, regularly visits a patient living in an Amish community, allowing the caregiver an opportunity to step away.
"The patient is bedridden and no longer able to respond or move. I’ve stayed with him so his wife can gather with her brothers and sisters at their Friday evening meals and visits. She’s also been able to attend a grandchild’s wedding and several funerals, and has even taken days to help clean her daughter's home, getting it ready for church. I frequently stay 4-5 hours to allow the wife some relaxing, stress-free time.”
Sometimes, we hear about how volunteering has helped them navigate their own grief journeys. Being able to provide support and care for others as they heal from their personal experiences can be very rewarding as well. Jane Sandor shares how volunteering has impacted her.
"For nearly four years, being a Parkview Hospice Volunteer has brightened my days, eased the journey of grief, blessed me with new lifelong friends and deepened my faith in a way I never imagined. Death and sharing such a sacred space have graced me in a profound way. There are days that I wonder if I really have the time to do the work, but then, I breathe deeper and go. For that strength, I am grateful.
I have no idea how many people I have served or the tasks I have accomplished. Each has its own unique benefit and gift. It is because of these myriad life experiences that the first two months of 2026 opened my eyes to a new insight into volunteer work. For during this time, I was no longer a volunteer; rather, once again, I became the caregiver. My oldest sister began her end-of-life journey, and I was blessed to walk with her.
After my sister passed, I returned to Fort Wayne and resumed my volunteer work. But this time it was different. As I sat with one of my patients while waiting for lunch, I saw the true emptiness and loneliness in the eyes of so many residents: blankly staring ahead, mindlessly stroking a straw, napping with their head bobbing, no twinkle in their eye, unable or unwilling to talk or walk. I thought of my sister and how she would never be happy living like this. She wanted to come home, and we demanded that it happen for her. She was blessed, but not everyone has that option. And that is why volunteers are crucial.
A volunteer can ease the loneliness, put a smile on someone's face, sing a song that puts a song in someone's heart or simply let them know that they are not alone. Our work as volunteers gives meaning to life… Is there any greater gift?"
Get involved
As Parkview serves more families through hospice care, we recognize the growing need for compassionate volunteers. Your support can make a profound difference for patients and their loved ones during this challenging time.
Parkview Hospice is always seeking new volunteers to fill a variety of roles, including patient companionship, caregiver relief, bereavement support, and administrative tasks. Opportunities to volunteer are available in Allen, Huntington, Noble, Wabash, Whitley, Steuben, DeKalb and LaGrange counties.
To apply online, visit parkview.com/hospicevolunteer. A volunteer coordinator will contact you with information about upcoming training dates.
For more information, email [email protected] or call 260-373-9800.
