Volunteering at St. Francis Reflections Lifestage Care is a gift from the heart

People from all walks of life volunteer with us! Our volunteers are a treasured and important part of our program, giving the gift of their time to improve the quality of life for our patients, their families, and our staff. Our volunteers are a diverse array of caring individuals including working professionals, retirees, stay-at-home parents, students, and people that are exploring new careers and building new skill sets.

• Working people, in the evening or on weekends.
• Retired people who want to stay active and continue to utilize skills and abilities.
• Stay-at-home parents who would like a change of pace.
• Students fulfilling community volunteering or Bright Futures requirements.
• Those considering a career change, building their resume, and those eager to gain new job skills.

In other words, people from all walks of life who are caring people willing to give the gift of their time and energy to improve the quality of life for our patients and their families.

We are eager to work with compassionate and caring individuals that have an interest in giving their time to help others. The minimum age for volunteers is 14 years old, and we welcome students and young adults to explore volunteering with us. Individuals interested in working with patients directly must be at least 18 years old. Our work with vulnerable populations requires a comprehensive vetting and orientation process, and we will walk you through each and every step.

• Minimum age for non-patient volunteer positions is 14 years; 18 years for programs with direct patient contact. Minimum age for volunteers is 14 years old.
• All volunteers must pass a Level II criminal background screening.
• Volunteers must complete the orientation training and screening process required for the specific volunteer role in which they are interested.
• All volunteers who work in a direct patient care role will receive a two-step TB screening test.
• Anyone interested in volunteering for hospice is asked to wait one year following a personal loss.

Each volunteer is asked to commit to a minimum of 4 hours per month. Most volunteers find that spending two to four hours per week volunteering with us is a very fulfilling balance.  Volunteers usually work out a regular schedule of availability, but some prefer to be available to fill in as needed.

St. Francis cares for patients throughout the entire stretch of Brevard County. Locations vary depending on the type of assignment that each volunteer prefers. From visiting patients, helping out in our administrative office, or representing St. Francis at community outings and events, there is something for everyone! Our volunteers visit patients in nursing facilities, private homes, and our Care Center in Titusville.  As a patient care volunteer, we will work with you to find a role within the area you feel most comfortable traveling to. Office volunteers help us at our administration buildings located in Titusville and Melbourne.

Yes – we know that many individuals in our community often split their time elsewhere or travel often. We will work with you to find a role that can accommodate your time away.

Our volunteers are not permitted to provide hands-on or medical care to patients. They are engaged in supportive roles that are extremely meaningful to our patients, families, and staff. Many of our patient support volunteers enjoy reading, singing, or crafting with our patients and their families. If visiting with patients, volunteering might include sitting with the patient or engaging in activities with them such as reading or listening to music.

Volunteering offers so many wonderful rewards, including:

• Serving the local community in a meaningful way.
• Receiving joy and fulfillment by helping others at a very crucial time in their lives.
• Interacting with other volunteers and professionals.
• Enjoying an uplifting change of pace from your job.
• Learning about aging and end-of-life issues.
• Gaining community service experience.
• Increasing knowledge of community resources.
• Sharing talents through crafting, sewing and quilting projects.
• Spreading the joy of wags and kisses by providing Pet Therapy visits

The first step in becoming a volunteer is completing our volunteer application. Once we receive and review the application, a Volunteer Coordinator will contact you to discuss the next steps. If you have any questions, please call us at 321-269-4240 and ask for someone in Volunteer Services or you can e-mail us at Volunteer Services@ReflectionsLSC.org.

Please call our main office at 321-269-4240 and ask to speak with someone in Volunteer Services or you can e-mail us directly at VolunteerServices@ReflectionsLSC.org. We would love to speak with you and answer any additional questions you may have!