The hospice team encourages the family to surround themselves with a network of support from friends and church members. The hospice encourages the family to reminisce and take time out for light-hearted moments with the patient. The family is also urged to express their true feelings about what is happening. This training with the family leaves the family with a sense of empowerment. Volunteers work with the family to give them breaks and to run errands for the family or the patient.
Volunteers also offer companionship to the patient, especially if they are in a facility.
Families may be asked to meet some uncovered costs. However, hospices rarely, if ever, turn down patients for financial reasons. Public and community support through donations, grants, memorial gifts and fund-raising events assist to help cover the cost of care. Involved Volunteers are a hospice's life-blood and keep the facility running in an efficient, caring manner. Volunteers are fully trained by the hospice.