We Honor Veterans

BJC Hospice has partnered with the Department of Veteran Affairs to provide excellent end of life care to our veterans through education and awareness. One out of every four dying Americans is a veteran. We have a commitment to ensure that the unique needs and challenges of our veterans are met to provide them with the dignity they deserve. Our members do this through veteran specific education for our staff and community awareness.

In order to better serve our veterans, we are looking for veteran volunteers who would be willing to provide knowledgeable compassion to our veteran patients in hospice. Hospice is about a living a respectful, fulfilling life until death. In order to make this a reality for our patients, we think that providing a veteran volunteer would be very meaningful to both the patient and the volunteer.

Where are volunteers needed?

Volunteers are needed throughout St. Louis City and St. Louis County, St. Charles County, as well as Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Iron, Jefferson, Lincoln, Madison, Phelps, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Warren and Washington counties in Missouri. Volunteers are needed in Illinois to cover Calhoun, Clinton, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Monroe and St. Clair counties.

I’m interested, what is the next step?

Call the volunteer coordinator in your area at the number listed below. After completing an application, you will be contacted for a personal interview and will then attend a volunteer training session.

Veterans Helping Veterans

Volunteers provide invaluable support to patients and their families. Volunteers’ help can take a number of forms, from supporting the patient and family so they can continue to live life to the fullest, to helping within the office. How much time you volunteer is your choice and you are guided each step of the way with on-going training. We do ask that volunteers commit to volunteering for at least a year.

Regular volunteer opportunities

• Visiting with adult veterans and families in their own home, senior living residence, or Evelyn’s House, our hospice home
• Providing caregiver relief
• Running errands
• Providing pet therapy to veterans
• Handyman and yard work

Specialty volunteer opportunities

• Lumina program- life review, creating books, letters and memory videos for veterans
• Passage program- sitting with veterans in their final 24-48 hours
• Spiritual care program- providing spiritual support to veterans and their families
• Bereavement program- providing calls and visits to bereaved families
• Samantha’s Gift program- making red, white & blue afghan blankets or cards for veterans