Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Volunteers in Palliative Care

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Textbook of Palliative Care

Abstract

Volunteers are key members of the hospice and palliative care team. In some countries, they are the only source of care provision for a person at a palliative stage of a disease. This chapter highlights both the importance of volunteers in these settings and the impact their contribution makes to care. The chapter covers the definitions of volunteering, the historical development of volunteering in hospice and palliative care, as well as research evaluation to document volunteer practice, an understanding of their distinct role in patient and family care, and assessment of their impact on patients and their families experience. The chapter also provides five case studies from volunteers across the world on their experiences in volunteering.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 819.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 1,099.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abel J, Kellehear A. Palliative care reimagined: a needed shift. BMJ Support Palliat Care. 2016;6:21–6. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjspcare-2015-001009.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Alcock P. A strategic unity: defining the third sector in the UK. Voluntary Sect Rev. 2010;1(1):5–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Block EM, Casarett DJ, Spence C, Gozalo P, Connor SR, Teno JM. Got volunteers? Association of hospice use of volunteers with bereaved family members’ overall rating of the quality of end-of-life care. J Pain Symptom Manag. 2010;39(3):502–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brighton LJ, Koffman J, Robinson V, Khan SA, George R, Burman R, et al. ‘End of life could be on any ward really’: a qualitative study of hospital volunteers’ end-of-life care training needs and learning preferences. Palliat Med. 2017;31(9):842–52.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Brock CM, Herndon CM. A survey of hospice volunteer coordinators: training methods and objectives of current hospice volunteer training programs. Am J Hosp Palliat Med. 2017;34(5):412–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burbeck R, Low J, Sampson EL, Scott R, Bravery R, Candy B. Volunteer activity in specialist paediatric palliative care: a national survey. BMJ Support Palliat Care. 2013. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjspcare-2012-000355.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burbeck R, Low J, Sampson EL, Bravery R, Hill M, Morris S, et al. Volunteers in specialist palliative care: a survey of adult services in the United Kingdom. J Palliat Med. 2014a;17(5):568–74.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Burbeck R, Candy B, Low J, Rees R. Understanding the role of the volunteer in specialist palliative care: a systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies. BMC Palliat Care. 2014b;13(1):3.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Candy B, France R, Low J, Sampson L. Does involving volunteers in the provision of palliative care make a difference to patient and family wellbeing? A systematic review of quantitative and qualitative evidence. Int J Nurs Stud. 2015;52(3):756–68.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Casarett D. Ethical issues in palliative care research. In: Oxford textbook of palliative medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  • Claxton-Oldfield S. Hospice palliative care volunteers: the benefits for patients, family caregivers, and the volunteers. Palliat Support Care. 2015a;13(3):809–13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Claxton-Oldfield S. Got volunteers? The selection, training, roles, and impact of hospice palliative care volunteers in Canada’s community-based volunteer programs. Home Health Care Manag Pract. 2015b;27(1):36–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Council of Europe. Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers to member states on the organisation of palliative care. Stockholm: Ipisisim Vulpute ver Ii ese; 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dean A, Willis S. ‘A strange kind of balance’: inpatient hospice volunteers’ views on role preparation and training. Prog Palliat Care. 2017;25(6):1–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • European Association of Palliative Care. Voice for volunteering. The EAPC Madrid Charter on volunteering in hospice and palliative care. Available from: http://www.eapcnet.eu/Themes/Resources/VolunteeringCharter.aspx (accessed 12th June 2018); 2017.

  • Gale B. O-26 Making a difference – stories from community hospice volunteers. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care. 2015;5:A82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Globisch MD. Denmark. In: Gronemeyer R, Fink M, Globisch M, Schumann F, editors. Helping people at the end of their lives hospice and palliative care in Europe. Berlin: Lit Verlag; 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gomes B, Calanzani N, Curiale V, McCrone P, Higginson IJ. Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of home palliative care services for adults with advanced illness and their caregivers. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009;(6):CD007760.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goossensen A, Somsen J. Volunteering in hospice and palliative care in the Netherlands. In: Scott R, Howlett S, editors. The changing face of volunteering in hospice and palliative care: an international perspective. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2018.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Goossensen M, Somsen J, Scott R, Pelltari L. Defining volunteering in hospice and palliative care in Europe: an EAPC white paper. Eur J Palliat Care. 2016;23(4):184–191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herbst-Damm KL, Kulik JA. Volunteer support, marital status, and the survival times of terminally ill patients. Health Psychol. 2005;24(2):225.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hesse M, Radbruch L. Volunteering in hospice and palliative care in Germany. In: Scott R, Howlett S, editors. The changing face of volunteering in hospice and palliative care: an international perspective. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2018.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Higginson IJ, Evans CJ, Grande G, Preston N, Morgan M, McCrone P, et al. Evaluating complex interventions in end of life care: the MORECare statement on good practice generated by a synthesis of transparent expert consultations and systematic reviews. BMC Med. 2013;11(1):111.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hoerger M. Randomization failure in palliative care RCTs. Palliat Med. 2017;32:533–4. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269216317727159.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Horey D, Street A, O’Connor M, Peters L, Lee S. Training and supportive programs for palliative care volunteers in community settings. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(7):CD009500.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howick JH. The philosophy of evidence-based medicine. Oxford: Wiley; 2011.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Howlett S, Scott R. Pulling it all together. In: Scott R, Howlett S, editors. The changing face of volunteering in hospice and palliative care: an international perspective. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2018.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huntir A. Volunteering in hospice and palliative care in Australia. In: Scott R, Howlett S, editors. The changing face of volunteering in hospice and palliative care: an international perspective. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2018.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Jenkinson CE, Dickens AP, Jones K, Thompson-Coon J, Taylor RS, Rogers M, et al. Is volunteering a public health intervention? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the health and survival of volunteers. BMC Public Health. 2013;13(1):773.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson MJ, Ekstrom M, Currow DC. In response to C Walshe,‘The state of play’. Palliat Med. 2017;31(8):772–3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kavalieratos D, Corbelli J, Zhang D, Dionne-Odom JN, Ernecoff NC, Hanmer J, et al. Association between palliative care and patient and caregiver outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2016;316(20):2104–14.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kiange K. Volunteering in hospice and palliative care in Africa. In: Scott R, Howlett S, editors. The changing face of volunteering in hospice and palliative care: an international perspective. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2018.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Krakowiak P, Pawłowski L. Volunteering in hospice and palliative care in Poland and Eastern Europe. In: Scott R, Howlett S, editors. The changing face of volunteering in hospice and palliative care: an international perspective. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2018.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krouse RS, Rosenfeld KE, Grant M, Aziz N, Byock I, Sloan J, et al. Palliative care research: issues and opportunities. Cancer Epidem Biomar Prevent. 2004;13(3):337–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar S, Numpeli M. Neighborhood network in palliative care. Indian J Palliat Care. 2005;11(1):6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luijkx KG, Schols JM. Volunteers in palliative care make a difference. J Palliat Care. 2009;25(1):30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McKee M, Kelley ML, Guirguis-Younger M, MacLean M, Nadin S. It takes a whole community: the contribution of rural hospice volunteers to whole-person palliative care. J Palliat Care. 2010;26(2):103.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer D, Schmidt P, Zernikow B, Wager J. It’s all about communication: a mixed-methods approach to collaboration between volunteers and staff in pediatric palliative care. Am J Hosp Palliat Med. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049909117751419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morris S, Wilmot A, Hill M, Ockenden N, Payne S. A narrative literature review of the contribution of volunteers in end-of-life care services. Palliat Med. 2013;27(5):428–36.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morris SM, Payne S, Ockenden N, Hill M. Hospice volunteers: bridging the gap to the community? Health Soc Care Community. 2015;25:1704–13.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Pabst K, Pelttari L, Scott R, Jaspers B, Loth C, Radbruch L. The role and motivation of volunteers in hospice and palliative care in Europe. 15th World Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care, Madrid, Spain; 2017.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pawłowski L, Lichodziejewska-Niemierko M, Pawłowska I, Leppert W, Mróz P. Nationwide survey on volunteers’ training in hospice and palliative care in Poland. BMJ Support Palliat Care. 2016. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjspcare-2015-000984.

  • Pelttari L, Pissarek A. Volunteering in hospice and palliative care in Austria. In: Scott R, Howlett S, editors. The changing face of volunteering in hospice and palliative care: an international perspective. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2018.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Pesut B, Hooper B, Lehbauer S, Dalhuisen M. Promoting volunteer capacity in hospice palliative care: a narrative review. Am J Hosp Palliat Med. 2014;31(1):69–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Radbruch L, Payne S. White paper on standards and norms for hospice and palliative care in Europe: part 2. Eur J Palliat Care. 2010;17(1):22–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rochester C, Paine AE, Howlett S, Zimmeck M, Paine AE. Volunteering and Society in the 21st Century. Basingstoke: Pallgrave Macmillan; 2010.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Rochester C, Paine AE, Howlett S, Zimmeck M, Paine AE. Volunteering and society in the 21st century. Springer; 2016.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott R. Strategic asset or optional extra: the impact of volunteers on hospice sustainability. Unpublished doctoral thesis, University of Dundee. Available from http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.585509; 2013.

  • Scott R. “We cannot do it without you”- the impact of volunteers in UK hospices. Eur J Palliat Care. 2015;22(2):80–3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Söderhamn U, Flateland S, Fensli M, Skaar R. To be a trained and supported volunteer in palliative care–a phenomenological study. BMC Palliat Care. 2017;16(1):18.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations. State of the world’s volunteeerism report: Transforming Governance. United Nations Volunteer Programme. Available from: https://www.unv.org/sites/default/files/2015%20State%20of%20the%20World%27s%20Volunteerism%20Report%20-%20Transforming%20Governance.pdf; 2015.

  • Vanderstichelen S, Houttekier D, Cohen J, Van Wesemael Y, Deliens L, K Chambaere. Describing the size and type of care tasks of the volunteer workforce in palliative care: a nation-wide survey. 15th world congress of the European association for palliative care, Madrid, Spain; 2017.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walshe C, Algorta GP, Dodd S, Hill M, Ockenden N, Payne S, et al. Protocol for the End-of-Life Social Action Study (ELSA): a randomised wait-list controlled trial and embedded qualitative case study evaluation assessing the causal impact of social action befriending services on end of life experience. BMC Palliat Care. 2016;15(1):60.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Weeks LE, Macquarrie C, Bryanton O. Hospice palliative care volunteers: a unique care link. J Palliat Care. 2008;24(2):85.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson DM, Justice C, Thomas R, Sheps S, MacAdam M, Brown M. End-of-life care volunteers: a systematic review of the literature. Health Serv Manag Res. 2005;18(4):244–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization. WHO definition of palliative care. 2018. Available from: http://www.who.int/cancer/palliative/definition/en/.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, University College London, London, UK

    Bridget Candy & Joe Low

  2. Dundee University is School of Education and Social Work, Dundee, UK

    Ros Scott

  3. EAPC Task Force on Volunteering in Hospice and Palliative Care in Europe, Hospice Austria, Vienna, Austria

    Leena Pelttari

Authors
  1. Bridget Candy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Joe Low
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ros Scott
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Leena Pelttari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bridget Candy .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine,Palliative Care, HammondCare, The University of Sydney School of Medicine, Sydney, Australia

    Roderick Duncan MacLeod

  2. VUB-UGhent End-of-Life Care Research Group, Department of Family Medicine and Chronic Care and Department of Clinical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium

    Lieve Van den Block

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Candy, B., Low, J., Scott, R., Pelttari, L. (2019). Volunteers in Palliative Care. In: MacLeod, R., Van den Block, L. (eds) Textbook of Palliative Care. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77740-5_120

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation