When a patient’s stay in the hospital might be longer than expected, patients enjoy distractions. Volunteers for the Patient Activity Cart would wheel the cart to the patient’s room to assist in finding activities to engage them as they continue to heal. The Patient Activity Cart opportunity is available at Texas Health Fort Worth.

Pet Therapy teams volunteer to provide healing comfort visits to patients, guests and staff via an engaged hands-on experience. Pet Therapy has been shown to improve patient satisfaction, patient energy levels, self-esteem, and mood, as well as decrease depression. Pet handlers and pets each have separate compliance requirements. Our goal is to have Pet Therapy at each THR hospital. Upon applying at your desired THR hospital, please clarify if the campus you are applying to currently hosts a Pet Therapy Program.

The SPOONS program, offered at Texas Health Denton and Texas Health Fort Worth, provides patients with trained hospital volunteers to provide mealtime assistance and socialization. SPOONS Volunteers provide mealtime assistance for 4-6 hours weekly (or 1-2 meals weekly). Additionally, SPOONS volunteers can help with distributing items from the activity cart and providing socialization for patients in between meals.

SPOONS Program Objectives:

• Promote optimal nutritional status in hospitalized patients
• Provide assistance with meals to patients without known swallowing difficulties
• Provide socialization and cognitive stimulation during mealtimes
• Provide opportunities for volunteers seeking interaction with patients

Visiting Veteran volunteers provide a welcomed distraction to hospitalized veterans. Visiting Veterans volunteers provide support, companionship, and a listening ear while providing wayfinding and other helpful campus information to veteran patients and their guests. These visits hope to offer encouragement between former service members, increase communication and service delivery to veteran patients. Our goal is to have Visiting Veterans at each THR hospital. Upon applying at your desired THR hospital, please clarify if the campus you are applying to currently hosts the Visiting Veterans Program.