People serve with ABODE in many different ways. Some volunteers support the home through preparing meals, tending the gardens, greeting visitors, helping with events, or assisting with everyday tasks that bring warmth and ease to the space. Others feel called to deeper end-of-life roles such as vigil sitting, doula support, end-of-life supportive yoga, or on-call support. Every role is meaningful because every act of care contributes to the sense of dignity, connection, and presence we hope each Guest experiences during their time at ABODE.
Volunteering at ABODE is not about having all the answers or saying the perfect thing. It is about showing up with compassion, steadiness, and a willingness to be present with others during one of life’s most sacred transitions. Training and guidance are provided for roles where needed, and volunteers are supported as they grow into the work.
Ways to Serve
There are many ways to support ABODE. Some volunteers help care for the rhythm of the home through meals, gardening, hospitality, and community events. Others feel called to sit bedside, offer specialized support, or share professional skills that bring comfort and connection to our Guests and families.
Every role contributes to the warmth, dignity, and contemplative presence of ABODE.
Meal Prep
Meals are one of the simplest and most meaningful ways people care for the home. Volunteers often prepare or deliver food for Guests, visiting loved ones, Navigators, and those spending long hours at ABODE during tender moments.
Sometimes this looks like a home-cooked meal. Other times it may simply be bringing a Guest their favorite comfort food, whether that’s fried chicken, Italian food, seafood, soup, or something sweet they’ve been craving.
Grocery Support
Volunteers occasionally assist with grocery pickup and restocking items needed for the home. Needs are coordinated directly with the House Navigators and vary from week to week based on Guests, visitors, and the rhythm of the house.
Garden Care
The grounds at ABODE are part of the experience of the home itself. Volunteers help care for the butterfly garden, labyrinth, native wildflowers, trees, walkways, and outdoor gathering spaces that offer moments of peace and reflection to Guests, families, and visitors.
Tasks may include watering, planting, sweeping patios, light weeding, seasonal cleanup, and helping maintain the beauty and serenity of the property.
Hospitality & Guest Support
Volunteers in this role help support the flow of the home through small daily tasks, greeting visitors, answering phones, assisting Navigators, and offering a calm and welcoming presence to those entering ABODE.
During quieter moments, volunteers may spend time visiting with Guests who desire companionship and connection.
This role serves as a bridge between visitors, Guests, families, and the Navigator on shift, helping maintain the warmth and hospitality of the home while supporting the natural rhythm of daily life at ABODE.
New volunteers interested in Guest companionship will receive guidance in ABODE’s contemplative approach to holding space and being a comfort to the dying.
Events & Community Gatherings
ABODE hosts a variety of gatherings throughout the year that bring the community together in meaningful and life-giving ways. From educational events and remembrance gatherings to community celebrations and fundraisers, these moments help foster connection, conversation, and greater understanding around living, dying, grief, and care.
Volunteers may assist with planning, setup, hospitality, decorating, cleanup, or supporting guests during events.
Specialized Offerings
Some volunteers feel called to offer specialized forms of support that bring additional comfort, dignity, connection, and care to our Guests and families. These offerings are shared thoughtfully and are always guided by the comfort, wishes, and condition of each Guest.
Grooming & Nails
Grooming and Nails Volunteers offer gentle personal-care support that helps Guests feel comfortable, tended to, and dignified. Services may include simple hair care, beard trims using beard trimmers, nail polishing, lotion application, and other light grooming support based on the Guest’s wishes and comfort.
This role is ideal for individuals with experience in personal grooming or cosmetology who wish to share their care and presence with others in a meaningful way.
Yoga Doulas
Yoga Doula Volunteers are certified practitioners who offer gentle, end-of-life supportive practices for Guests who wish to engage in grounding and restorative care. This may include breathwork, guided meditation, visualization, mantra, gentle movement, or assisted stretching, always tailored to the Guest’s comfort and condition.
These offerings are intended to support relaxation, presence, emotional ease, and connection during the end-of-life journey.
If you are interested in becoming a certified yoga doula, you may learn more here or email natalie@abodehome.org.
Massage & Reiki
Massage and Reiki Volunteers are licensed or certified practitioners who offer light-touch or energy-based support to Guests seeking comfort, relaxation, soothing connection, or relief from tension and discomfort.
All sessions are gentle, brief, and guided by the Guest’s needs, preferences, and condition. Proof of professional credentials is required for participation in this role.
Veteran’s Final Salute
The Veteran’s Final Salute is a gesture of honor, gratitude, and recognition offered to military Veterans nearing the end of life. Fellow Veterans may offer words of appreciation, the presentation of a military appreciation coin, and a final salute in recognition of their service and sacrifice.
This role is reserved for military Veterans.
Other Languages Support
Other Languages Support Volunteers help Guests and families who feel more comfortable communicating in a language other than English. Support may include simple conversation, companionship, gentle interpretation, or helping families feel more at ease during their time at ABODE.
Volunteers are contacted based on language skills and the unique needs of each Guest and family.
Music & Sound Healing
Music and Sound Healing Volunteers offer gentle musical or sound-based support that may include soft instrumental music, singing, singing bowls, or other calming sound practices.
Offerings are always adapted to the comfort and preferences of each Guest and family and are intended to create moments of peace, reflection, and connection within the home.
The 11th Hour
11th Hour Volunteers sit vigil at the bedside during a Guest’s final hours, offering quiet, compassionate presence day or night. These volunteers serve in partnership with the on-duty Navigator and may support Guests whose loved ones are unable to be present or who are nearing death without close family nearby.
This role centers on presence rather than doing, creating a calm and reverent space during one of life’s most sacred transitions.
Additional training and preparation are provided for volunteers serving in this role.
What to Expect
Questions or concerns may be directed to ABODE Leadership, including the Executive Director or Volunteer Coordinator.
- An initial conversation and home tour
- A background check
- Shadowing or orientation experiences
- Training and guidance where appropriate
ABODE offers general training in our contemplative approach to communicating with Guests and families. As volunteers express interest in additional roles, we provide the support and preparation needed for those areas of service.
Our goal is not perfection, but presence. Volunteers are encouraged to serve in ways that feel grounded, sustainable, and aligned with their comfort and experience.
Community Guidelines & Shared Expectations
ABODE is built on trust, compassion, dignity, and presence. We ask all volunteers to help protect the peace and integrity of the home by honoring the following shared expectations:
- Honor the privacy and confidentiality of Guests and families
- Treat every person with kindness, respect, and dignity
- Maintain compassionate and appropriate boundaries
- Arrive fully present and free from substances that may impair judgment or safety
- Use phones and personal devices discreetly and respectfully
- Respect the cultural, spiritual, and personal beliefs of every Guest and family
- Help maintain a calm, welcoming, and contemplative environment
- Follow house guidelines and support the mission and values of ABODE
- Please refrain from photography within private spaces of the home
- Strong scents should be avoided due to Guest sensitivities
- Bring concerns, questions, or conflicts forward with openness and care
Questions or concerns may be directed to ABODE Leadership, including the Executive Director or Volunteer Coordinator.
Next Steps
Once your volunteer application is submitted, our Volunteer Coordinator will reach out, typically by email within 2 business days, to schedule a time to connect and tour the Home.
From there, the volunteer process generally includes:
- An initial conversation and tour of ABODE
- Completion of a background check
- Shadowing opportunities to experience the rhythm of the home
- General orientation in ABODE’s contemplative approach to care and communication
- Additional training and guidance for volunteers interested in specialized offerings or bedside support
- Ongoing connection and support from ABODE
ABODE absorbs the majority of volunteer onboarding costs whenever possible. For those who are able, we invite a suggested contribution of $25 to help offset the cost of background checks and volunteer name badges.