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- Dr. Ros Scott, Prof. Anne Goossensen,
- Prof. Sheila Payne, Mag. Leena Pelttari, MSc
EAPC Task Force on Volunteering
The voice of European volunteers: A qualitative analysis of accounts - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
The voice of European volunteers: A qualitative analysis of accounts - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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
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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
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36 Stories – 8 countries
Austria
Finland France Germany Italy Netherlands Poland UK
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FINDINGS
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Context
§ Gender of participants: § 20 female § 6 male § 10 did not state § Settings: hospice ward, day hospice, patients’ homes, hospital palliative care wards
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Volunteer Activities
§ Direct patient care and support § Family support § Bereavement support § Religious and faith activities § Organisational support
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How activities are performed
“without judgment” “presence” “empathy” “being sensitive” “not to seek anything” “silence” “quietly and lovingly” “observe quietly” “with all my heart”
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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.
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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.
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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”
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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”
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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.
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