No One Dies Alone

No One Dies Alone is a service provided by the Duke Cancer Patient Support Program. It is designed to serve the needs of oncology patients nearing the end of life.

Sometimes, patients do not have family or caregivers present due to absence or distance. Volunteers from No One Dies Alone provide companionship to patients who would like someone with them at the end of life. They also provide a presence to families who may need extra support during the final hours of a loved one’s life.

Volunteers will be responsible for:

• Sitting with patients
• Reading to patients
• Playing music for patients
• Talking to patients

Other Details

Program location: Duke University Hospital

Training provided: Volunteer orientation session -- which includes fire and safety, compliance, HIPAA, service recovery, etc. -- and intensive job-specific training involving the medical staff, Pastoral Services, Duke Cancer Patient Support counselors, and others.

Time commitment: A minimum one year commitment for all new volunteers. This volunteer opportunity is on an as-needed basis. It also requires eight additional hours of training. Undergraduate students are required to volunteer in another of our programs for at least one semester before joining No One Dies Alone.

Conditions: Must have excellent interpersonal skills, be a good listener with a friendly personality, work well with diversity, be reliable, be flexible, and have the ability to adapt well to change.

Contact Information

Contact Information: Phillip Shoe
Phone: 919-684-4497
Address: Box 3139, DUMC, Durham, NC 27710
E-mail: phillip.shoe@duke.edu
Web site: www.cancer.duke.edu/support