Volunteer with Patients & Families

Visit with patients who live in their own homes or in long-term care facilities in the community.

• Location: Anywhere in our service area—including right in your local community. We work with you to learn where you would like to go. See a map.
• Days/times: Weekdays, evenings and weekends are available, depending on patient needs
• Minimum age: 16 to visit in long-term care facilities, 18 to go to patient homes
• Training requirements: Phone interview, application, background checks, one reference, 8 total hours of training, two-step TB test

Provide companionship to patients, deliver meals, assist with activities, support/assist staff, and more!

• Location: Agrace inpatient units in Madison or Janesville
• Days/times: Weekdays, evenings or weekends
• Minimum age: 16
• Training requirements: Phone interview, application, background checks, one reference, 10 to 14 total hours of training, two-step TB test

As a veteran, share your time to lift the spirits of other veterans. Be the warm welcome home they need.

• Location: Anywhere in our service area—including right in your local community. We work with you to learn where you would like to go. See a map.
• Days/times: Weekdays, evenings and weekends are available, depending on patient needs
• Minimum age: 18
• Training requirements: Phone interview, application, background checks, one reference, 11 total hours of training, two-step TB test

Brighten a patient’s day by visiting with your approved visiting pet.

• Location: Agrace inpatient units in Madison or Janesville, or at long-term care facilities throughout our service area.
• Days/times: Weekdays, evenings or weekends
• Minimum age: 16
• Training requirements: Phone interview, application, background checks, one reference, Agrace required training, two-step TB test. Your dog must obtain AKC Canine Good Citizen certification, or get registered as a therapy dog through Pet Partners, Alliance of Therapy Dogs or Therapy Dogs International.

Use your cosmetology or barber skills to provide haircuts and styles to our patients, because everyone deserves to have their dignity, even when they’re not feeling their best.

• Location: Patients’ homes or long-term care facilities throughout our service area, or at our Madison Inpatient Unit
• Days/times: Weekdays, evenings or weekends
• Minimum age: 18
• Training requirements: Phone interview, application, background checks, one reference, Agrace required training, two-step TB test. You must have a current Wisconsin cosmetology or barber license or be an enrolled cosmetology student.

Provide comfort and relaxation to patients through Reiki, a light, hands-on energy therapy.

• Location: Patients’ homes or long-term care facilities throughout our service area, or at our Madison or Janesville inpatient units.
• Days/times: Weekdays, evenings or weekends.
• Minimum age: 18
• Training requirements: Phone interview, application, background checks, one reference, Agrace required training, two-step TB test. You must be a Level 2 or higher Reiki provider.

Use gentle massage to provide relaxation to patients.

• Location: Madison or Janesville inpatient unit
• Days/times: Weekdays, evenings or weekends
• Minimum age: 18
• Training requirements: Phone interview, application, background checks, one reference, 10 to 14 hours of training, two-step TB test. You must have a current Wisconsin massage license.

Share your love of music with patients by playing an instrument or singing.

• Location: Patients’ homes or long-term care facilities throughout our service area, or at the Madison or Janesville inpatient units
• Days/times: Weekdays, evenings, or weekends
• Minimum age: 16
• Training requirements: Phone interview, application, background checks, one reference, Agrace required training, two-step TB test

Share your love of listening to music with patients through our specialized iPod music program.

• Location: Patients’ homes or long-term care facilities throughout our service area, or at the Madison or Janesville inpatient units.
• Days/times: Weekdays, evenings, or weekends
• Minimum age: 16
• Training requirements: Phone interview, application, background checks, one reference, Agrace required training, two-step TB test

These two opportunities are available to people who have a minimum of 50 hours of volunteer service in either Home Care or at the Agrace Inpatient Unit. You must also interview with a volunteer coordinator to make sure these roles are a good fit. Additional training is required for these essential roles.

Record patients’ life stories to be compiled into a memento for the patient and family.

• Location: Patients’ homes or long-term care facilities throughout our service area
• Days/times: Weekdays, evenings, or weekends
• Minimum age: 18
• Training requirements: 50 volunteer hours in Home Care or at the Agrace inpatient units (including all training required for those roles), and a four-hour additional training.

Sit with patients who are actively dying as a caring presence, so they are not alone.

• Location: Patients’ homes or long-term care facilities throughout our service area, or Agrace inpatient units in Madison or Janesville
• Days/times: Typically, night volunteer shifts (8 p.m. to midnight, or midnight to 4 a.m.)
• Minimum age: 18
• Training requirements: 50 volunteer hours in Home Care or at the Agrace inpatient units (including all training required for those roles), and an additional four-hour training.