The BRAIN Project
Volunteer Role Description
Defining the Position
Volunteers can be a valuable asset to the geriatric ED. Before you begin recruiting, you will want to define the parameters of the role. To help you create an effective volunteer job description for volunteers that will work with older adults at your hospital, we’ve shared a sample. This particular sample was created for a Meal Mates role, but you can adapt it for your program.
Start With an Example
Read the following volunteer role description for an idea of what to include in your own. We’ve also provided a Microsoft Word version for ease of use.
Sample Volunteer Role Description
Get started by adapting this sample document.
Download Word Document
Example Volunteer Role Description
Position Title
Meal Mates Volunteer
Department
Volunteer Services
Reports To
List the members of Volunteer Servicesw tha the volunteer will report to.
Qualifications
- Friendly, people-oriented, able to interact with all types of people
- Must be able to communicate in English; bilingual skills are a plus
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and listening skills
- Must be able to walk and stand for the majority of the shift
Competencies
- Accountability — Responsible for completing work assignments
- Communication — Good listening skills; able to maintain strict confidentiality at all times
- Continuous Learning/Flexibility — Driven to develop, acquire, and utilize new knowledge, skills
- Customer Focus/Caring — Able to determine customer needs and provide them with excellent service
- Respect for Diversity — Values differences in all people; avoids demonstrating any bias toward individuals or groups by words and actions
- Teamwork/Collaboration/Support — Willing to work cooperatively with others and without direct supervision
Training
- Hartford Hospital orientation
- HIPAA Education
- Hartford Hospital Meal Mates Volunteer training
- One shift with a preceptor (staff or volunteer)
- Continuing education as required
Responsibilities
- Sign in at the Volunteer Office
- Report for duty with appropriate volunteer attire and identification badge
- Provide meal assistance on assigned unit
- Introduce self and volunteer role in an appropriate manner
- Always honor the patients right to refuse volunteer assistance
- Be sure you have clear permission from the patient’s nurse before assisting with meal
- ALWAYS wash hands when entering and leaving a patient room
- Communicate any concerns about the patient to their nurse before leaving the unit
VOLUNTEER WILL NOT
- Move or boost a patient
- Lower side rails
- Assist patient getting in/out of a bed or chair
- Offer medical advice
- Offer advice on hospital, unit policies, or procedures
- Offer physical care (lifting or moving a patient)
- Enter isolation rooms
- Remove linens from beds
Typical Physical Demands
- Able to stand for long periods of time
Hours of Duty
- Two 3-hour shifts per week for 8 weeks
- Sunday through Satruday
Part of the BRAIN Project
Creating Dementia and Delirium Friendly Hospitals
BPAC sessions are a key element of the BRAIN Project. The initiative brings the Alzheimer’s Association and the Geriatric ED Collaborative together with the support of the West Health Institute. Its goal is to identify high-performing hospitals, understand how their models work, and translate those lessons into practical tools for other health systems to adopt.
BRAIN brings together leading hospitals to explore practical interventions for dementia and delirium in ED and inpatient settings. Successful approaches are shared through collaborative sessions and formalized. From there, health systems are equipped to transform care — translating what is already known into what is widely practiced.
