The voice of European volunteers: A qualitative analysis of accounts of volunteering in palliative care contexts Dr. Ros Scott, Prof. Anne Goossensen, Prof. Sheila Payne, Mag. Leena Pelttari, MSc EAPC Task Force on Volunteering
Background and Aims § Volunteer voices not often heard directly § Aims of the project: Explore what volunteering in hospice and palliative § care means to volunteers. Explore the similarities and differences in European § volunteers activities and meanings.
Methodology Approached contacts in eight countries § Each 5 volunteer stories (400-500 words) – own language § Two questions as framework § “What do you do as a volunteer?” § “What does volunteering mean to you?” § Translated into English § Framework analysis §
36 Stories – 8 countries Austria Finland France Germany Italy Netherlands Poland UK
FINDINGS
Context § Gender of participants: § 20 female § 6 male § 10 did not state § Settings: hospice ward, day hospice, patients’ homes, hospital palliative care wards
Volunteer Activities § Direct patient care and support § Family support § Bereavement support § Religious and faith activities § Organisational support
How activities are performed “without “presence” “silence” judgment” “empathy” “quietly and lovingly” “observe quietly” “being “with all sensitive” “not to seek my heart” anything”
Volunteering and meaning Six key themes: Giving meaning to own life : learning from patients, from § sorrow, staying grounded, inner peace, “a richer, grateful person” Growing through making connections : open to fears, § hopes, stories of others, being with, acknowledging uniqueness of others.
Volunteering and meaning 2 Brings new perspectives : new ways to understand § sickness, sorrow and death, complexity/uniqueness of death, material things less important. Providing comfort in moments that count: work § emotionally heavy, “leaves marks on my soul”, dif`icult being with someone dying, negative impact – more restless and impatient.
Volunteering and meaning 3 Personal development/achievement: building § con`idence, learning from mistakes, more tolerant and forgiving, “value in personal growth from volunteering” Grateful and privileged being part of lives at vulnerable § moments, privileged to accompany dying people, “thankful..I am allowed to be there”
Less common themes Activities: counselling patients- living will, massage, § taking patients to see home for last time. How: “And we laugh, too – to be honest, we laugh a lot”, “a § laugh can be liberating in many situations". Meaning: volunteering “as an act of solidarity”, a gift” § “does nor mean much to me…not about solving your own problems”
Conclusion § Collecting personal stories from volunteers across Europe highlights some similarities of experience and shared values. § An understanding of motivations and meaning can help HPC organisations to improve support and maximise volunteer contributions.
THANK YOU To contact us for more information on the stories project: r.z.scott@dundee.ac.uk Please sign the EAPC Charter on Volunteering at http://bit.ly/EAPCVolunteeringCharter
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