Facts & Fallacies
Our mission is to enable a person to die with dignity in a homelike setting.
FALLACY: Guests can be referred only by the hospital.
FACT: Guests are referred by social workers, home health agencies, hospitals, family, health care providers or by themselves.The house can only accommodate one guest at a time. Preference is given to guests who lack social, emotional and/or financial support to remain at home during the dying process.
FALLACY: Guests have to be Catholic.
FACT: Guests do not have to be Catholic or active in any faith. The majority of guests have not been Catholic.
FALLACY: Volunteers have to be Catholic.
FACT: Volunteers do not have to be Catholic. Although the house is owned and operated by St. Peter’s church
and community,many volunteers come from different faiths or none at all. Samaritan House is an ecumenical, community based mission. We continue to need volunteers! Our goal is to have a minimum of 75 in order to
provide adequate support to our guests 24/hours a day.
FALLACY: A volunteer is required to work a certain number of hours a week.
FACT: Volunteer hours are flexible. A volunteer may work as many or as few hours a week as they are able.
Typical shifts are four hours, although in some cases, they can be split. Volunteers are asked to communicate
their availability with the scheduler when a new guest is welcome.
FALLACY: Only nurses and health care workers can volunteer.
FACT: Anyone can volunteer! We offer a training program for volunteers. No experience in the health care
field is necessary to volunteer at Samaritan House.
FALLACY: It is very difficult to work with someone who is dying.
FACT: Volunteering offers an opportunity to minister to a dying guest and share a rich human connection with the person and with their loved ones. Volunteers often comment on the positive experiences they have known through this ministry.
FALLACY: Guests can be referred only by the hospital.
FACT: Guests are referred by social workers, home health agencies, hospitals, family, health care providers or by themselves.The house can only accommodate one guest at a time. Preference is given to guests who lack social, emotional and/or financial support to remain at home during the dying process.
FALLACY: Guests have to be Catholic.
FACT: Guests do not have to be Catholic or active in any faith. The majority of guests have not been Catholic.
FALLACY: Volunteers have to be Catholic.
FACT: Volunteers do not have to be Catholic. Although the house is owned and operated by St. Peter’s church
and community,many volunteers come from different faiths or none at all. Samaritan House is an ecumenical, community based mission. We continue to need volunteers! Our goal is to have a minimum of 75 in order to
provide adequate support to our guests 24/hours a day.
FALLACY: A volunteer is required to work a certain number of hours a week.
FACT: Volunteer hours are flexible. A volunteer may work as many or as few hours a week as they are able.
Typical shifts are four hours, although in some cases, they can be split. Volunteers are asked to communicate
their availability with the scheduler when a new guest is welcome.
FALLACY: Only nurses and health care workers can volunteer.
FACT: Anyone can volunteer! We offer a training program for volunteers. No experience in the health care
field is necessary to volunteer at Samaritan House.
FALLACY: It is very difficult to work with someone who is dying.
FACT: Volunteering offers an opportunity to minister to a dying guest and share a rich human connection with the person and with their loved ones. Volunteers often comment on the positive experiences they have known through this ministry.