Why Volunteers Matter
Hospice is unique in that volunteers are an essential part of care. From the very beginning of The Connecticut Hospice in 1974, volunteers have worked alongside nurses, physicians, and chaplains, offering comfort, companionship, and support that complements medical care.
Today, more than 200 volunteers serve patients and families in our inpatient facility and in homes across Connecticut, continuing a long tradition of service rooted in compassion and community.
How Volunteers Support Patients & Families
Volunteers are at the heart of the hospice mission. They contribute in many meaningful ways, including:
- Sitting with patients and offering companionship
- Supporting families during visits or times of rest
- Assisting with arts and music, spiritual care, and special projects
- Helping with transportation, gardening, events, and behind-the-scenes support
Volunteers come from all walks of life (students, working professionals, retirees, and community members), and each brings their own skills and perspective.
Training, Support, & Community
All volunteers receive thorough training and support from hospice staff to ensure they feel prepared and confident in their role. The Connecticut Hospice also partners with local schools and universities, including Yale University, to offer meaningful volunteer opportunities rooted in service and learning.
Interested in Volunteering?
All volunteers receive thorough training and support from hospice staff to ensure they feel prepared and confident in their role. The Connecticut Hospice also partners with local schools and universities, including Yale University, to offer meaningful volunteer opportunities rooted in service and learning.
Focusing on Patients, Not Profits, Since 1974.
Comprehensive Support Options
Medical Support Measures
Physician-guided care focused on pain relief and symptom management.
Pastoral Care and Spiritual Support
Support for reflection, meaning, or faith, regardless of beliefs or traditions.
Social Work
Guidance and emotional support as families navigate decisions, stress, and change.
Therapies (PT/OT/ST)
Home-based therapies that support safety, function, and independence.
Volunteer Support
Presence and companionship, often from those with personal hospice experience.
Different Locations.
One Approach to Care.
Whether at home, in skilled care or assisted living facilities, or at The Connecticut Hospice’s Branford hospital, we care for patients and families together—because serious illness affects everyone involved.
Our interdisciplinary team collaborates across care settings to support physical comfort and well-being while addressing emotional, social, and spiritual needs.
Care plans are tailored to each individual and adjusted as circumstances change, helping families feel supported, informed, and never alone throughout their journey.
Licensed, Certified, Accredited Hospital
Our 52-bed waterfront hospital is available to all our home care patients, as well as new patients referred by families or our community partners.
This facility provides 24/7 expert-level symptom management, including infused pain medications and rapid dose adjustments for patients whose symptoms cannot be managed at home.
Licensed, Certified, Accredited Home Care
Our home care services support patients in private homes, assisted living communities, and skilled nursing facilities across all levels of palliative and hospice care.
Care is delivered by interdisciplinary teams focused on comfort, caregiver support, and continuity, allowing patients to remain at home whenever clinically appropriate.
Admissions
Admission to The Connecticut Hospice is a collaborative process guided by each patient’s needs and goals of care.
Our team works closely with patients, families, and referring providers to ensure the right level of support, in the right setting, at the right time.
A Comprehensive Approach
At The Connecticut Hospice, families and caregivers are an essential part of the care experience. That’s why we support patients and the people who love them together.
Care plans are shaped around shared goals, personal needs, and what matters most in daily life. Our interdisciplinary team works across settings and services to ensure care is coordinated, responsive, and attentive to the emotional, social, and spiritual well-being of everyone involved.
We help bring clarity and compassion to serious illness, so patients and loved ones can focus on the moments that matter most.
How Can We Help?
Make a Donation
As a local not-for-profit, The Connecticut Hospice relies on donor support to provide individualized services and therapies not fully covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance.
Your generosity helps ensure that every patient and family receives the care, comfort, and support they need, regardless of circumstances.