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In the hospice setting, volunteers are a essentials members of the team providing quality hospice palliative care. A recent study was conducted by Cait and colleagues (2024) to address social, ethnic and demographic changes in Southwestern Ontario and understand how this may affect volunteer recruitment, and representation.
To accomplish this, interviews and focus groups were conducted with hospice volunteers, ethnocultural community leaders and hospice staff. Information from the focus groups and interviews was analyzed using thematic analysis in five different phases.
The analysis revealed some significant differences in how ethnocultural communities perceive hospice compared to Westernized, Eurocentric perspectives. The cause of these different views could be due to the cultural interpretations of end-of-life care, which demonstrates the benefits that could stem from addressing certain systemic and structural barriers to access and participate in hospice palliative care for ethnocultural groups.
Some important factors that play a crucial role in ethnocultural volunteer recruitment included systemic inequities, limited information sharing, volunteer motivation and representation within hospice organizations. The study demonstrated that the Euro-ethnocentric model of hospice care could possibly be limiting the accessibility for ethnocultural individuals wanting to volunteer.
In order to diminish the gap of this type of model of care, constant communication, relationship building and a commitment to mutual learning are essential. The study helps to highlight the importance for hospice organizations to continue to engage in dialogue and collaboration with the communities to ensure that the model is inclusive and culturally appropriate.
The data represented in this study could be applied to many areas beyond Southwestern Ontario. This could help multiple hospices access some insight to ensure that palliative care all throughout Canada is inclusive and holistic and to provide them with information to enhance ethnocultural accessibility and volunteer recruitment. By recognizing and addressing these differences in culture and the barriers that possibly exist, a larger amount of the population could be served and have access to end-of-life care.
In conclusion, this study demonstrates the benefits that could arise from addressing social, ethnic, and demographic changes in the hospice care setting. This could help ensure inclusivity and accessibility for all communities. Not only could these changes be beneficial for current volunteers and to recruit more, but it can also help foster a more supportive environment for individuals receiving end-of-life care.
Source: Cait, C. A., & Lafreniere, G. (2024). “Stop Imposing on Us”: A Critical Examination of Ethnocultural Considerations in the Canadian Volunteer Hospice Palliative Care Landscape. Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life & Palliative Care, 1-16.
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