Are hospice workers paid or purely volunteers getting tax breaks for service hours?

Question

It has to cost these workers money for gas and expenses and it has to cost for equipment and their hours of service. Just wondering how it all works?

Answer 1

Hospice uses a mix of volunteers and paid staff. Both groups are usually reimbursed by the hospice organization for gas and expenses; if not, then they can claim some of that off their taxes, but only if they itemize their tax return (rather than using the EZ form).

Some hospices are nonprofit, but there are some that are for-profit.

Here's a lot more details:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospice

In my own experience: hospice is wonderful. It's brought so much comfort and help to so many, including members of my own family.

Answer 2

Hospice is big business.  The workers get paid, but the sponsoring organizations (usually hospitals) are laughing all the way to the bank.  Financially, hospice is a huge rip off from medicare and your social security health benefit.  You are essentially cut off from your family doctor, in many cases, and are prevented from getting anything except pain medicine.  In many cases, patients are taken off physical therapy, underlying issues, such as bladder infections and arthritis go untreated, and the quality of life is reduced.  In the worse cases, patients become addicted to narcotics and their tumours go into remission, and what could be a quality extension of life becomes a living h**l.  Most of the workers are well intentioned, but when you lose your family doctor, things go to pot quickly...

Answer 3

Hospice is different in each city/state.

We had Hospice when my mother was dying. They were on top of everything and would call her Dr. if needed. They would come as often as requested. All of them were very caring to my dying mother....

Answer 4

The Hospice in my area uses both paid and volunteer staff members.

I volunteer for another organization; equipment directly related to my work is provided by the organization. Most times I pay for my own gas, but sometimes I do get my gas paid for-it depends on the situation. When I want to claim gas or other expenses on my taxes, I keep very good records...otherwise I just consider my expenses as a donation. I am not compensated for my "hours of service".

Groups that provide Hospice care vary; your best source for information is the Hospice in your area.

Answer 5

The hospice I volunteer for is a non-profit and uses both paid and volunteer staff.  I am a patient-care and vigil volunteer of 10 years service and receive no compensation from hospice.  I take mileage only on my tax return.  Whatever tax deduction I receive for this work is a pittance but there is much personal satisfaction in this volunteer work.