a community of practitioners

Volunteer Vs Paid

Hey Everyone,

I'm excited to be a part of this growing group!

My question comes from a perception that, more often than not, people seem to provide massage on a volunteer basis for hospice programs. Has anyone else noticed this, and if so, what do you think about it? If you are a volunteer, is that a personal choice you made, or would you prefer to be paid? If you are being paid in a hospice setting, what is your business model (e.g. are you paid by a facility or by families)?

I am trying to make my own decisions about how to fit hospice massage into my career. I believe in volunteerism and perhaps would be more fulfilled by the work if my finances didn't depend on it... but I also believe that people should be able to make a living from what they love to do! I like the idea of being on staff or hired by a facility more than the idea of charging families directly; asking for money from families who are often already financially strapped and emotionally fried can feel a little uncomfortable (and this is from someone who generally doesn't have 'money issues').

Would love to hear other people's thoughts/experiences on this!

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kelly Sanders, LMT on April 11, 2011 at 4:52pm

Kate;

I've volunteered way too much during my years in practice. Once, I volunteered for a Ronald McDonald house and gave my info to everyone residing there that I was available to provide my services to them or their hospitalized child or loved one to offer them stress or pain relief. Each house is different as is each hospice. Try to meet the hospice DON Dir. of Nursing as well as the RM house Mom, offer them a complimentary massage so they can refer you to their clients or client families. I once became so overwhelmed giving away my services, I quit volunteering. Good luck tho.

Kelly

Permalink Reply by Daniel Cohen on April 12, 2011 at 10:50am

Doesn't this result from Insurance & Medicare policies? All the other professionals mentioned are allowed charges.

Permalink Reply by robert zeh on April 12, 2011 at 8:40pm

I love the idea of giving massages to those who need it the most. in hospice care I can do this.

You are right hospice care is considered a volunteer position. My V.N.A. would like to employ me, but the insurances don't cover massage therapy as a valid therapy for the dying. By law they need a minimum # of volunteers to continue receiving funding for the nurses, and aids.A pet therapist, a mental health aid, pastoral counselors, companions, a reiki master, My self, and the Chaplin make up the volunteer roster. There is a home agency in my aria that hires hospice therapist but they require two years experience in hospice massage before they hire. I am using my volunteer position as a platform to gain the experience needed for this position. as well as taking the courses to learn the nuances not taught in basic massage school. Also the two years experience requirement insures we came through the two year professional grieving process which prepares us to do what we do to help the dying and their families cope with their grief.

We all work together as a team. When you think of hospice as a team effort, and every one on the team including you is needed to make it work. I find the job satisfaction worth it. My supervisor told me to think of my position as a job. I do. I am not just a volunteer in the strictest sense. I think of myself as an unpaid employee. I also have a paying job. and am working to get my practice as an open air massage therapist going.

Permalink Reply by Hanna Eakin on September 19, 2011 at 9:31am

Hi Everybody, this is one of my first postings. I am fortunate enough to work for a major metropolitan hospital as a hospice LMT. You are right in realizing the other staff; Nurses , P:T's Speech T's and MSWs are paid through insurance or medicare. I am paid through the "foundation" of this hospital. We are a not for profit. Folks that have money they want to donate to a good cause is basically what the foundation is about. of course it is not only hospice, so those funds are distributed across the board of the other disciplines and catagories within the hospital. I am considered PRN or as needed. I make my own schedule and recieve my refferrals from the intake nurses. I work in private homes, nursing and extended care facilities, as well as all of the hospital branches. I travel about 1000 miles a month and have a case load of about 40 Pts I visit over a 3 week cycle. being paid hourly has been a blessing and I feel this position is the first time in my 30 year history of being an MT that I am being fairly compensated, though I do not recieve any benefits. I would love to hear from anyone else out there that is a paid hospice massage therapist for a hospital. The technical anti is certainly up in this setting, I needed to learn more computer skills; use a blackberry, and document on line. I am the only one they have hired thus far and am still trying to figure that out. There is no shortage of hospice Pts that can benefit from this service. And I also agree it is always better to have the service as part of the overall hospice team package than to to have the families try to figure MT into their already tight budget. Would love some feedback, I'm definitely hungry for some feedback from colleagues that do what I do.