Suggested Volunteer Guidelines

1. Live up to the responsibility of your volunteer role. Be on time. Have fun, but take your role seriously. Patients will look forward to your visit. If you cannot make your scheduled visit, call as soon as you are able so patients can be notified.

2. Dress appropriately. Try to match the staff in appearance. Please, no jeans or ‘dog clothes’. Be comfortable, neat, and well-groomed. Wear your identification.

3. Respect the confidential aspects of your visits and the dignity and privacy of the people with whom you work. Do not repeat what you hear outside the hospital.

4. Show empathy toward people, not sympathy. Empathy is the ability to relate to another person and understand his feelings without condescension and over-involvement.

5. Be optimistic about life in general and the patient’s outlook in particular, but don’t encourage unrealistic goals or attitudes.

6. Be honest and genuine at all times. Be friendly and interact with the patients. Have fun!

7. Be flexible. Make allowances for a person’s limited abilities at the present time.

8. Be willing to accept supervision from the professional staff. Don’t show partiality. Accommodate requests from staff for visits to particular patients whenever possible.

9. Become involved with your patients, in a warm and natural manner. Do not get over-involved. If you are unsure, ask your supervisor.

10. Ask staff members anything you do not know. Don’t harbor doubts or frustrations. Do not fill patient requests for drinks, food, or movement. Tell patient you will ask a staff person.

11. Provide a supportive, encouraging emotional climate. Respect and be sensitive to a person’s need at times for privacy and withdrawal. The patient may love dogs, but be too ill to visit on a particular day. Don’t push yourself on someone.