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Understanding the role and deployment of volunteers within specialist palliative care services and organisations as they have adjusted to the COVID-19 pandemic : a multi-national EAPC volunteer taskforce survey

Catherine Walshe, Leszek Pawłowski, Sophie Shedel, Steven Vanderstichelen (UGent) , Melissa J Bloomer, Anne Goossensen, Joaquín T Limonero, Karen Sangild Stoelen, Chiara Caraffa, Leena Pelttari, et al.
(2023) PALLIATIVE MEDICINE. 37(2). p.203-214
Author
Organization
Abstract
Background: Early indications were of a major decline in specialist palliative care volunteer numbers during COVID-19. It is important that ongoing deployment and role of volunteers is understood, given the dependence of many palliative care services on volunteers for quality care provision. Aim: To understand the roles and deployment of volunteers in specialist palliative care services as they have adjusted to the impact of COVID-19. Design: Observational multi-national study, using a cross-sectional online survey with closed and free-text option questions. Disseminated via social media, palliative care networks and key collaborators from May to July 2021. Setting/participants: Any specialist palliative care setting in any country, including hospices, day hospices, hospital based or community teams. The person responsible for managing the deployment of volunteers was invited to complete the survey. Results: Valid responses were received from 304 organisations (35 countries, 80.3% Europe). Most cared for adults only (60.9%), provided in-patient care (62.2%) and were non-profit (62.5%). 47.0% had cared for people with COVID-19. 47.7% changed the way they deployed volunteers; the mean number of active volunteers dropped from 203 per organisation to 33, and 70.7% reported a decrease in volunteers in direct patient/family facing roles. There was a shift to younger volunteers. 50.6% said this drop impacted care provision, increasing staff workload and pressure, decreasing patient support, and increasing patient isolation and loneliness. Conclusion: The sustained reduction in volunteer deployment has impacted the provision of specialist palliative care. Urgent consideration must be given to the future of volunteering including virtual modes of delivery, micro-volunteering, and appealing to a younger demographic.
Keywords
Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, General Medicine, workforce, volunteers, palliative care, hospices, COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19

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MLA
Walshe, Catherine, et al. “Understanding the Role and Deployment of Volunteers within Specialist Palliative Care Services and Organisations as They Have Adjusted to the COVID-19 Pandemic : A Multi-National EAPC Volunteer Taskforce Survey.” PALLIATIVE MEDICINE, vol. 37, no. 2, 2023, pp. 203–14, doi:10.1177/02692163221135349.
APA
Walshe, C., Pawłowski, L., Shedel, S., Vanderstichelen, S., Bloomer, M. J., Goossensen, A., … Scott, R. (2023). Understanding the role and deployment of volunteers within specialist palliative care services and organisations as they have adjusted to the COVID-19 pandemic : a multi-national EAPC volunteer taskforce survey. PALLIATIVE MEDICINE, 37(2), 203–214. https://doi.org/10.1177/02692163221135349
Chicago author-date
Walshe, Catherine, Leszek Pawłowski, Sophie Shedel, Steven Vanderstichelen, Melissa J Bloomer, Anne Goossensen, Joaquín T Limonero, et al. 2023. “Understanding the Role and Deployment of Volunteers within Specialist Palliative Care Services and Organisations as They Have Adjusted to the COVID-19 Pandemic : A Multi-National EAPC Volunteer Taskforce Survey.” PALLIATIVE MEDICINE 37 (2): 203–14. https://doi.org/10.1177/02692163221135349.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
Walshe, Catherine, Leszek Pawłowski, Sophie Shedel, Steven Vanderstichelen, Melissa J Bloomer, Anne Goossensen, Joaquín T Limonero, Karen Sangild Stoelen, Chiara Caraffa, Leena Pelttari, and Ros Scott. 2023. “Understanding the Role and Deployment of Volunteers within Specialist Palliative Care Services and Organisations as They Have Adjusted to the COVID-19 Pandemic : A Multi-National EAPC Volunteer Taskforce Survey.” PALLIATIVE MEDICINE 37 (2): 203–214. doi:10.1177/02692163221135349.
Vancouver
1.
Walshe C, Pawłowski L, Shedel S, Vanderstichelen S, Bloomer MJ, Goossensen A, et al. Understanding the role and deployment of volunteers within specialist palliative care services and organisations as they have adjusted to the COVID-19 pandemic : a multi-national EAPC volunteer taskforce survey. PALLIATIVE MEDICINE. 2023;37(2):203–14.
IEEE
[1]
C. Walshe et al., “Understanding the role and deployment of volunteers within specialist palliative care services and organisations as they have adjusted to the COVID-19 pandemic : a multi-national EAPC volunteer taskforce survey,” PALLIATIVE MEDICINE, vol. 37, no. 2, pp. 203–214, 2023.
@article{01GPJR621WDF37PKJV6P810N7Z,
  abstract     = {{Background: Early indications were of a major decline in specialist palliative care volunteer numbers during COVID-19. It is important that ongoing deployment and role of volunteers is understood, given the dependence of many palliative care services on volunteers for quality care provision. Aim: To understand the roles and deployment of volunteers in specialist palliative care services as they have adjusted to the impact of COVID-19. Design: Observational multi-national study, using a cross-sectional online survey with closed and free-text option questions. Disseminated via social media, palliative care networks and key collaborators from May to July 2021. Setting/participants: Any specialist palliative care setting in any country, including hospices, day hospices, hospital based or community teams. The person responsible for managing the deployment of volunteers was invited to complete the survey. Results: Valid responses were received from 304 organisations (35 countries, 80.3% Europe). Most cared for adults only (60.9%), provided in-patient care (62.2%) and were non-profit (62.5%). 47.0% had cared for people with COVID-19. 47.7% changed the way they deployed volunteers; the mean number of active volunteers dropped from 203 per organisation to 33, and 70.7% reported a decrease in volunteers in direct patient/family facing roles. There was a shift to younger volunteers. 50.6% said this drop impacted care provision, increasing staff workload and pressure, decreasing patient support, and increasing patient isolation and loneliness. Conclusion: The sustained reduction in volunteer deployment has impacted the provision of specialist palliative care. Urgent consideration must be given to the future of volunteering including virtual modes of delivery, micro-volunteering, and appealing to a younger demographic.}},
  author       = {{Walshe, Catherine and Pawłowski, Leszek and Shedel, Sophie and Vanderstichelen, Steven and Bloomer, Melissa J and Goossensen, Anne and Limonero, Joaquín T and Stoelen, Karen Sangild and Caraffa, Chiara and Pelttari, Leena and Scott, Ros}},
  issn         = {{0269-2163}},
  journal      = {{PALLIATIVE MEDICINE}},
  keywords     = {{Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine,General Medicine,workforce,volunteers,palliative care,hospices,COVID-19 pandemic,COVID-19}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{203--214}},
  title        = {{Understanding the role and deployment of volunteers within specialist palliative care services and organisations as they have adjusted to the COVID-19 pandemic : a multi-national EAPC volunteer taskforce survey}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1177/02692163221135349}},
  volume       = {{37}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}
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