Concordia Hospice of Washington

Concordia Hospice of Washington Volunteer Program

Volunteers are always welcome and needed. All volunteers must complete a volunteer application form, per the Hospice Medicare Regulations, and receive training from the Concordia Hospice of Washington staff – the amount of training depends upon the area of volunteer interest. Volunteers choose the amount of time they wish to volunteer as well as the geographical areas in which they wish to serve.

Because hospice patients have diverse needs, Concordia Hospice of Washington welcomes individuals and groups (church, school, community) with varied skills. Our volunteers have been gardeners, hairstylists, artists, musicians, carpenters, quilters, housekeepers, and writers. Every special skill and talent can be used when you are a hospice volunteer.

Volunteer opportunities include:

• Provide companionship and support to patients
• Give caregivers much needed breaks
• Help in our Donnell House inpatient unit
• Run errands, light laundry, housekeeping
• Share prayer or spiritual support
• Cook or bake
• Play music or sing
• Visit with a therapy pet
• Provide massage therapy
• Help patients write or tell their life stories
• Assist staff with administrative tasks and special events

Click here to view the standard application. Once the application opens in a new window you can either: 1) print and mail the completed application to Concordia Hospice of Washington, Attn: Volunteer Coordinator, 10 Leet Street, Washington, PA 15301, or 2) print and fax a completed application to us at 724-250-4558.

For more information, please call us at 724-250-4500. You can also message us through our contact form.

Concordia Hospice of Washington History

The history of Concordia Hospice of Washington ultimately goes back to the dedication and compassion of the people of Greene and Washington counties. The roots of our organization can be traced back to the 1970s in Greene County, where one man was driven to help families dealing with end-of-life illnesses by changing the medical landscape in the area.

Rev. Dr. J. E. Victor Carlson, a Presbyterian minister who worked at Waynesburg University, lived with his wife, Ruby, and their three young sons in the late 70s when the unthinkable happened – Ruby was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor. Rev. Carlson relied on friends and family to help him care for her and their children, but after Ruby’s death, he searched for programs that helped families in similar situations. He eventually discovered what he was looking for – hospice care, which provides comfort and dignity to the patient and support for the family, when a cure is no longer probable.

After finding a hospice program in Connecticut, he traveled to the facility and learned all he could. Upon returning to Greene County, he formed a task force that later became Hospice Care, Inc., one of the first such programs to be chartered in the state.

Hospice Care, Inc. grew over the years and eventually expanded into Washington County. Sadly, a year before the company was set to merge with Washington Hospital, Rev. Carlson was diagnosed with cancer and lived out his final days in peace as a patient of the company he formed.

Even after Rev. Carlson passed away, his vision to bring quality hospice care to Greene and Washington counties continued to thrive. Hospice Care, Inc. merged with Washington Hospital in 1996, opening opportunities for inpatient care and other new services. Opened in 2002, the Donnell House, located at 10 Leet Street, Washington, PA 15301, is the only inpatient hospice of its kind in Washington County. The expansion was possible thanks to a generous lead gift from Richard and Shana Donnell and financial support from many other community members. The Donnell House offers eight patient rooms that open onto private patios. It also includes a chapel, kitchen, great room, a playroom for visiting children, and a family dining room.

The Washington Hospital, which can trace its own roots as far back as 1897, was later rebranded as Washington Health System in 2013. When Southwest Regional Medical Center in Greene County (formerly Waynesburg Hospital) was added to Washington Health System in 2015, the system covered both Greene and Washington counties.

The newest chapter of hospice in the area started on July 1, 2016, when Washington Health System partnered with Concordia Community Support Services, which oversees the operations of Concordia Visiting Nurses, Concordia Private Care, and Good Samaritan Hospice, and VNA Alliance. The partnership resulted in the creation of Concordia Hospice of Washington. We assimilated Washington Health System’s Hospice Care to enable residents to receive quality end-of-life care in their homes as well as inpatient and respite care at the Donnell House in Washington, PA.

Concordia Hospice of Washington is made up of hospice volunteers, registered nurses, medical social workers, home health aides, spiritual care team members, bereavement counselors, and medical directors. When a patient is admitted, a specialized care plan is prepared based on each individual’s physical, emotional and spiritual needs.

For more information about Concordia Hospice of Washington, call Concordia Hospice of Washington at 724-250-4500 or message us through our contact form.