Volunteer Caregiver Enrollment & Training

Requirements of Participation:

Potential Volunteer Caregivers are individuals who can commit to the following: 

• One year of service. This includes one weekly 5-hour shift during a morning, afternoon, or evening (weekdays and weekends). Once you are scheduled for a shift it will remain the same from week to week. 
• Participation in monthly Volunteer Caregiver Community Meetings held on the first Tuesday of each month from 6:45pm to 9:00pm. 
• Maintaining an already-established contemplative practice. 
• Completion of the 40-hour Volunteer Caregiver training.
• Submitting to a criminal background check, and TB test as required by state law. 

If you are unable to fulfill these requirements, please consider our Special Skills Volunteer Program.

Volunteer Caregiver Application

Fall 2012 Training Schedule

Attendance is required at all sessions.

Wed. & Thu.  October 17 & 18  5:45pm –10pm
Sat. & Sun.  October 20 & 21  8:30am–6pm
Sat. & Sun.  October 27 & 28  8:30am–6pm 
Tues.  November 20  6:45pm–9pm
Tues.  December 18  6:45pm–9pm
Tues.  January 15, 2013  6:45pm–9pm
Tues.  February 19, 2013

Application deadline: August 15, 2012.
Notification for applicant interviews begins September 24, 2012.

For more information:

• View our Frequently Asked Questions
• Contact Roy Remer, Guest House Volunteer Manager

ENROLLMENT

We enroll new Volunteer Caregivers each spring and fall. To become a Volunteer Caregiver, you must complete our Volunteer Caregiver training (see dates below). More general information about this program can be found here. An application is required. Early application is recommended, as the program size is limited. All applicants should be prepared to participate in an in-person interview; unfortunately we will not be able to interview via phone or Skype.

To apply for the Volunteer Caregiver training, simply click on the button to the right marked Volunteer Caregiver Application. You can also request a hard copy application by contacting Zen Hospice Project at 415-863-2910. The application invites you to take time for thoughtful reflection of what hospice volunteering means to you. Heartfelt and well-considered responses are desired.

We accept applications on an on-going basis and review them all approximately 2 months before the next scheduled training.  We will email you a confirmation that we received your application.  Applications that we receive after this review period has begun will be held for the following training. 

Your application will be reviewed by our Director of Volunteer Services. For selected applicants we then schedule in-person interviews in advance of the next training. Acceptance into the program is based on your application and interview. An important aspect of a candidate’s application is the reasonability of keeping the commitment we ask. Upon review of your application you will be contacted for one of the following reasons:

1. To schedule an interview to determine if you will be joining the next training.
2. To indicate that the training cohort is already full and your application will be forwarded to a future training.
3. To indicate that your application is being declined.

A $250 fee is charged to cover a portion of Zen Hospice Project’s expenses for the training. Send no money until your acceptance into the training is confirmed.

Photo © A. Raja Hornstein

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