I was Zooming with a hospice today for Q & A’s and the subject of not being able to use volunteers because of Covid came up. WHOA!!! What do you mean you can’t use volunteers because of Covid? They are more important now than ever! We just have to use them differently.
Because of social distancing and lock downs, significant others, whether their hospice person is at home or in a nursing facility, are so very much alone.
The fear, worry, and concerns brought about by end of life situations are compounded by the isolation imposed by covid and this pandemic. Often there is limited contact and physical support from family, friends and neighbors. The primary care person/significant other is alone with their thoughts way too often and for too long. It is a very scary time.
SO the phone and your volunteers become a valuable asset to hospice care. How? Assign a volunteer to each family whether the patient is in their home or a residential care facility before the death, as soon as they come on service.
The volunteer’s job is to make daily phone contact, become a friend, a resource person. The person that asks, "Do you need anything? How are things going today? Did you sleep well last night? What are you having for dinner?" All friend-like questions and concerns.
The volunteer offers reassurance, is a contact with the hospice nurse, social worker or chaplain, and reports back concerns. The volunteer is an extra pair of eyes and ears, as well as emotional support for the family/significant other during a time of increased insecurity, fear, and confusion.
Follow through with this use of volunteers following the death. Use the same volunteer who has now become a familiar friend.
A daily call for the first few weeks following the death helps again with the isolation. The church ladies aren’t bringing in casseroles and the family generally isn’t dropping by (due to wanting to keep loved ones safe from Covid exposure).
This lack of normal contact intensifies the normal grief patterns. Having a volunteer making daily phone contact as bereavement support provides a “look out” for possible grief pathology. Also, just having a friend check in each day is reassuring and comforting during these challenging times.
A wonderful part of the hospice program is using volunteers as support for families. That service doesn’t need to stop just because of Covid. We just have to think outside of the box for creative ways to provide the best, most comprehensive end of life care for our patients and families.
Something More... about Using Hospice Volunteers During COVID
Hospice volunteers could read the section of Gone From My Sight that applies to patient with the family caregiver. "Dad is sleeping more and not interested in food? Then let's turn to page..." This will also clear up the unknown about what to expect next in Dad's care. If there seems to be a resistance to administering pain medications, read applicable sections of the booklet, Pain At End of Life to clear up any misconceptions.
19 comments
barbara
Anne, I would too. Palliative care recipients could use a volunteer program. Great idea! Can you make it happen for your program? Blessings! Barbara
Anne, I would too. Palliative care recipients could use a volunteer program. Great idea! Can you make it happen for your program? Blessings! Barbara
barbara
Bravo Virginia!!!! I’m thinking a lot of hospices would love to clone you. We need creative, outside the box thinkers during this challenging time of covid. Many blessings to you. Barbara
Bravo Virginia!!!! I’m thinking a lot of hospices would love to clone you. We need creative, outside the box thinkers during this challenging time of covid. Many blessings to you. Barbara
barbara
Hi Randi, I’m glad you shared your situation. You’ve found the area that you can help and also where it doesn’t work for you. Good self care! Would you consider putting your comments on my Facebook page Barbara Karnes RN group (if you do Facebook). I think you would get some good comments to your question. Blessings to you in the work you are doing. Barbara
Hi Randi, I’m glad you shared your situation. You’ve found the area that you can help and also where it doesn’t work for you. Good self care! Would you consider putting your comments on my Facebook page Barbara Karnes RN group (if you do Facebook). I think you would get some good comments to your question. Blessings to you in the work you are doing. Barbara
barbara
Hi Tina, of course share the blog, or any of my blogs, with whoever you think they might help.
That’s what I write therm for—to be of help. Give your dog a pet for me. Blessings! Barbara
Hi Tina, of course share the blog, or any of my blogs, with whoever you think they might help.
That’s what I write therm for—to be of help. Give your dog a pet for me. Blessings! Barbara
barbara
Hi Myra, To answer your question of why haven’t more hospices thought of using their volunteers in this way: I think Hospice has become so enmeshed in regulations to satisfy medicare that they have forgotten that the origins of hospice care came as the result of thinking outside the box. Covid and this pandemic is forcing hospice to be creative——something so many haven’t done for a long while. Thanks for asking. Blessings! Barbara
Hi Myra, To answer your question of why haven’t more hospices thought of using their volunteers in this way: I think Hospice has become so enmeshed in regulations to satisfy medicare that they have forgotten that the origins of hospice care came as the result of thinking outside the box. Covid and this pandemic is forcing hospice to be creative——something so many haven’t done for a long while. Thanks for asking. Blessings! Barbara
barbara
Hi Joyce, Caring for someone as they approach the end of their life is challenging in the best of times. Now, during covid, it is a thousand times harder. My wish for you is to find a friend, someone who will listen (doesn’t have to have answers) that you can just talk with. Talk about the weather, the news, your fears, your concerns. You want a “touchstone”. Ask your hospice if having read the blog they could find someone for you. Who knows we may have started something that will bring comfort to many. It isn’t about having answers. It is about having someone who “sees you”. Blessings Barbara
Hi Joyce, Caring for someone as they approach the end of their life is challenging in the best of times. Now, during covid, it is a thousand times harder. My wish for you is to find a friend, someone who will listen (doesn’t have to have answers) that you can just talk with. Talk about the weather, the news, your fears, your concerns. You want a “touchstone”. Ask your hospice if having read the blog they could find someone for you. Who knows we may have started something that will bring comfort to many. It isn’t about having answers. It is about having someone who “sees you”. Blessings Barbara
barbara
Hi Lori, thank you for sharing. Yes, FaceTime, even Zoom is needed to be creative in supporting our Hospice families and significant others. The challenge with Zoom and other platforms is that so many of our seniors are technologically challenged. Almost everyone has a phone. Blessings to you in the work you are doing. Barbara
Hi Lori, thank you for sharing. Yes, FaceTime, even Zoom is needed to be creative in supporting our Hospice families and significant others. The challenge with Zoom and other platforms is that so many of our seniors are technologically challenged. Almost everyone has a phone. Blessings to you in the work you are doing. Barbara
barbara
Rosemarie, social distancing has brought a new level to the loneliness to our grief, an added burden to our feelings. I hope you have at least one friend to talk with, who will listen. My blessings are with you. Barbara
Rosemarie, social distancing has brought a new level to the loneliness to our grief, an added burden to our feelings. I hope you have at least one friend to talk with, who will listen. My blessings are with you. Barbara
Lori
Our hospice agency has been utilizing the volunteers in just the way you described. I will add that if the technology is available the use of Face time may also be a nice option, as the patient or family can connect a face to the voice of the person on the phone. This may give even more of a sense of connection to the patient/ family/ volunteer as well as perhaps an avenue of assessment not always available through voice only contact.
Our hospice agency has been utilizing the volunteers in just the way you described. I will add that if the technology is available the use of Face time may also be a nice option, as the patient or family can connect a face to the voice of the person on the phone. This may give even more of a sense of connection to the patient/ family/ volunteer as well as perhaps an avenue of assessment not always available through voice only contact.
Joyce Marie Morentin
What a lovely read. I have a support group. I have hospice care. And yet, I still feel so needy and alone. My nose stings as I type this out.. I’ll forward this on to the hospice, with the hope, we can follow this example. Thank you, j
What a lovely read. I have a support group. I have hospice care. And yet, I still feel so needy and alone. My nose stings as I type this out.. I’ll forward this on to the hospice, with the hope, we can follow this example. Thank you, j
Myra Bennett
Thank you Barbara! Why hasn’t the hospice’s come to this understanding?!
Thank you Barbara! Why hasn’t the hospice’s come to this understanding?!
Tina M. Pfeiffer
Barbara, thank you for this encouraging post. My dog Martin and I are a pet therapy team volunteering at hospice. We have not been allowed to volunteer for almost a year. Is it appropriate for me to bring your post to the volunteer services coordinator? Thank you. I am also an 11th hour volunteer and your books have truly inspired me.
Barbara, thank you for this encouraging post. My dog Martin and I are a pet therapy team volunteering at hospice. We have not been allowed to volunteer for almost a year. Is it appropriate for me to bring your post to the volunteer services coordinator? Thank you. I am also an 11th hour volunteer and your books have truly inspired me.
randi bishop
I am a hospice volunteer. I did both respite and bereavement calls. The calls I made were to families/friends with whom I had no contact previously. I find it extremely difficult to continue on with loved ones after the passing. I find it best for my self care to stop contact as soon as possible. The few times I have stepped up and made the bereavement calls to folks I had served it became awkward as they were assuming I was now a “friend”. I do make one last call after the passing to offer my condolences,and that seems to satisfy me and them. I would like to hear from other volunteers on this.
I am a hospice volunteer. I did both respite and bereavement calls. The calls I made were to families/friends with whom I had no contact previously. I find it extremely difficult to continue on with loved ones after the passing. I find it best for my self care to stop contact as soon as possible. The few times I have stepped up and made the bereavement calls to folks I had served it became awkward as they were assuming I was now a “friend”. I do make one last call after the passing to offer my condolences,and that seems to satisfy me and them. I would like to hear from other volunteers on this.
Virginia Gonzalez
Loved this piece! I wish we could shout it from the mountain top. I have continued using our volunteers since the beginning of the pandemic in which they are able to stay connected to patients and families while bringing them color, love and support. All services are either performed right outside of the home/facility of where the patient resides where the volunteer never needs to enter or simply having the volunteer provide a service from the safety of their home.
As you said, it’s all about thinking outside of the box. Our volunteers still provide companionship visits by window or door side along with phone calls and letters as well.
I created a new program called the “Sunshiners” in which I have volunteers go to the home to paint window art on the bedroom window of where the patient is. The painting is of something that the patient will enjoy. I.E. flowers, mountains, animals etc.
If the family doesn’t want window art then I also offer a canvas painting in which a volunteer draws specifically for the patient and then have it delivered by either our nurse or social worker.
We also have a musical duo of volunteers who go to the home and/or facility to perform music outside of the window so the patient can view/hear. And we’ve recently started incorporating rock painting. It’s an easy inexpensive way to still keep volunteers engaged and working from home while still providing small tokens of color and love for patients to have in their home.
All of these have allowed us to still provide the support and socialization that our patients need now more than ever while also keeping our volunteers safe and engaged.
Our volunteers have been amazing through this whole process and continue to remain active despite the pandemic and open to the creativity that we’ve implemented. I am truly blessed to work with amazing individuals.
Thank you!
Loved this piece! I wish we could shout it from the mountain top. I have continued using our volunteers since the beginning of the pandemic in which they are able to stay connected to patients and families while bringing them color, love and support. All services are either performed right outside of the home/facility of where the patient resides where the volunteer never needs to enter or simply having the volunteer provide a service from the safety of their home.
As you said, it’s all about thinking outside of the box. Our volunteers still provide companionship visits by window or door side along with phone calls and letters as well.
I created a new program called the “Sunshiners” in which I have volunteers go to the home to paint window art on the bedroom window of where the patient is. The painting is of something that the patient will enjoy. I.E. flowers, mountains, animals etc.
If the family doesn’t want window art then I also offer a canvas painting in which a volunteer draws specifically for the patient and then have it delivered by either our nurse or social worker.
We also have a musical duo of volunteers who go to the home and/or facility to perform music outside of the window so the patient can view/hear. And we’ve recently started incorporating rock painting. It’s an easy inexpensive way to still keep volunteers engaged and working from home while still providing small tokens of color and love for patients to have in their home.
All of these have allowed us to still provide the support and socialization that our patients need now more than ever while also keeping our volunteers safe and engaged.
Our volunteers have been amazing through this whole process and continue to remain active despite the pandemic and open to the creativity that we’ve implemented. I am truly blessed to work with amazing individuals.
Thank you!
Robin Watts
Thank you for reminding us of the importance of volunteers. While many hospice patients suffer from a form of Failure to Thrive due to isolation and meaningless days, the volunteer can be the friend who heals. Volunteers have always been unsung heroes but they may actually be the soul healers needed in desperate times if we remember to utilize them.
Thank you for reminding us of the importance of volunteers. While many hospice patients suffer from a form of Failure to Thrive due to isolation and meaningless days, the volunteer can be the friend who heals. Volunteers have always been unsung heroes but they may actually be the soul healers needed in desperate times if we remember to utilize them.
Anne
This is so helpful, Barbara. There are things hospice can do. I like the suggestion of calling on a person. It is lonely to be alone during this pandemic. I would like it to apply to those in Palliative care also.
This is so helpful, Barbara. There are things hospice can do. I like the suggestion of calling on a person. It is lonely to be alone during this pandemic. I would like it to apply to those in Palliative care also.
Rosemarie Coletti
I want to thank you for your thoughtful insights and the booklets. I have given a copy of Gone From My Sight to several people when I knew their loved one was in the dying process. It helped me tremendously and helped them. Unfortunately, I have lost all of my immediate family members- My Parents and my one sister. I felt so isolated and alone at times, but your information has been a comfort and I share with others. VITAS was also a big support and continue to be following my Mom’s passing, soon to be one year. Thank you for all you do- it made a difference in my healing.
I want to thank you for your thoughtful insights and the booklets. I have given a copy of Gone From My Sight to several people when I knew their loved one was in the dying process. It helped me tremendously and helped them. Unfortunately, I have lost all of my immediate family members- My Parents and my one sister. I felt so isolated and alone at times, but your information has been a comfort and I share with others. VITAS was also a big support and continue to be following my Mom’s passing, soon to be one year. Thank you for all you do- it made a difference in my healing.
Joanne Ciampi
Our volunteers have been sending cheerful cards – some with cute pictures created by grandchildren – and/or calling patients who are able to talk by phone. Since our social workers and chaplains have been keeping up regularly with caregivers, we hadn’t asked volunteers to call them. We will now!
Our volunteers have been sending cheerful cards – some with cute pictures created by grandchildren – and/or calling patients who are able to talk by phone. Since our social workers and chaplains have been keeping up regularly with caregivers, we hadn’t asked volunteers to call them. We will now!
Toni
So appreciated these comments. Because of fear, many healthcare professionals and para-professionals think they can’t provide services anymore. We absolutely can! It all depends on your comfort level. I am comfortable going into clients’ homes and holding their hand. I realize many are not. But they can call, just like you said! We can’t stop doing what we have been called to do because of this virus. What if doctors and nurses thought that way???
So appreciated these comments. Because of fear, many healthcare professionals and para-professionals think they can’t provide services anymore. We absolutely can! It all depends on your comfort level. I am comfortable going into clients’ homes and holding their hand. I realize many are not. But they can call, just like you said! We can’t stop doing what we have been called to do because of this virus. What if doctors and nurses thought that way???