Yamamoto, a retired Hilo police officer, spends hours with Kimura each week so Kimura's daughter can run errands. Like Varize, Yamamoto values the time he spends volunteering. Yamamoto started volunteering almost 13 years ago, shortly after hospice opened in 1983, and has attended many funeral services since then. Now, at 78, he's often older than the patients he visits. More than 130 Hospice of Hilo volunteers help terminally ill patients and their families.
Some volunteers have full-time jobs.
Others, like Yamamoto and Varize, are retirees. All must complete a 20-hour training course that discusses the death process, bereavement, communication and appropriate conduct. Sometimes volunteers help with light housekeeping or simple patient care. Often they stay with the patient so that the family member or caregiver can rest, do housework or run errands. On any given day, up to 30 patients in Hilo receive help from hospice staff and volunteers.