Hospice volunteers are important members of the Hospice Team, a group of professionals who focus on ways to promote physical, emotional, social and spiritual comfort for the terminally ill.

Skagit Hospice serves Island, Skagit, Snohomish, and San Juan counties.

Patient and family volunteer training will be held in Sedro-Woolley at United General Hospital, Alder/Birch Conference Room, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays in October.

Orientation for this training will be held Monday, Sept. 14, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., also in the Alder/Birch conference room.

To register, call the Skagit Hospice volunteer coordinator at 360-814-5588, or 1-800-894-5877 by Sept. 11, or email Thais Armstrong at tarmstrong@skagitvalleyhospital.org.

Hospice volunteers share certain qualities: They come from all walks of life; they are emotionally mature, dependable, flexible, and non-judgmental; they are respectful of patient and family beliefs and values; they are able to listen and offer emotional support to patients and families; they are able to make and keep their appointments; they are available to volunteer up to 4 hours per week for a period of 12 months, excluding vacations and personal or family illness or emergencies; they are willing to participate in a free 40-hour training program, which includes infection control education, criminal check, and TB testing; they satisfy evaluation and interview criteria with the Hospice volunteer coordinator after training; and they have dependable transportation and proof of auto insurance if they drive.

Skagit Hospice also provides continuing education for volunteers as well as the opportunity to share support with other volunteers.