How to Get Involved

 
An informative 12-hour training is offered quarterly and is required for anyone interested in volunteering with Open Arms Hospice. If you are interested in becoming a Watchman volunteer, please apply online or call 864-688-1700.
 
 
 
 
 
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Watchman Program

We recognize congregations as a cornerstone of the community that provide vital spiritual care, social interaction and support to their members. Our Watchman Program is a way for volunteers to both help congregational communities with end-of-life issues and provide support for current hospice patients.
 
Watchman volunteers are trained to provide information on hospice and end-of-life care issues to faith communities, including churches, synagogues, temples, mosques and other places of worship. They are available to connect members of their congregations with information about hospice care and bereavement, as well as resources for handling grief, advance directives (living wills and powers of attorney) and other related topics.
 
In addition, Watchman volunteers can recruit teams from within their congregations to help hospice patients with special projects around their homes.
 

The Watchman's Role

Watchman volunteers:
  • Communicate hospice and end-of-life issues to their congregations
  • Convey the needs of congregation families to Open Arms Hospice
  • Recruit volunteers who can serve congregation members should they require hospice services
  • Connect congregation members in need to support groups and classes
  • Ensure that congregations have resources about end-of-life care available to educate and care for their members
  • Recruit groups from their congregations to help current hospice patients by building wheelchair ramps at patient homes, mowing their lawns, completing some minor home repairs, spraying pesticides, and more.
 

Watchman Training

Watchman volunteers participate in a 12-hour volunteer training program, quarterly resource meetings and have access to Open Arms Hospice staff for additional information and training.