Hospice Volunteers Find Joy in Final Moments

A resident at Saline Evangelical Home once looked at Whitney Prince and asked, "Can I adopt you?" He'd just mentioned his mother died six years earlier, and the woman wanted to fill that gap.

Prince volunteers with Arbor Hospice in Washtenaw County, visiting patients who are facing serious illness or nearing the end of life. He started four years ago after watching his own sister receive hospice care in Michigan, where musicians would learn new songs just to perform them for her the following week.

Now Prince visits residents regularly, talking, reading aloud, or simply holding hands. One man he visits is nonverbal but reaches for Prince's hand the moment he walks in the room. "Sometimes you just sit there and hold hands, and it's really very touching, very moving," Prince said. "You can tell that the people who we are visiting, they really want connection."

That desire for human connection drives Arbor Hospice's volunteer program. The organization has about 150 volunteers across Washtenaw County who provide everything from companionship to respite care for exhausted caregivers. Some volunteers share music with patients, while others connect veterans with fellow service members who understand their experiences.

Ruth Moore-Lilly, the volunteer program manager, said the organization always needs more help, especially in the greater Ann Arbor area. Volunteers must be at least 18 to serve independently, or 16 if accompanied by a parent or guardian. No special background is required beyond a willingness to serve and a commitment of about a year.

Sunny's Take

Prince wants people to know that hospice volunteering isn't what most expect. "It's not always sadness," he said. "There's a lot of joy, there's a lot of fun. So it's not hard, it really does feed the soul."

He's discovered what many end-of-life care volunteers learn: being present during someone's final chapter often brings unexpected moments of laughter, warmth, and deep human connection. The work gives as much as it takes, maybe more.

For people considering volunteering, Prince has simple advice: "You'll likely get back more than you give." In a world that often avoids talking about death, these volunteers are finding life's most profound moments by showing up when it matters most.