Volunteers are important members of the care team for clients receiving palliative care. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, data indicated a large decline in the number of palliative care volunteers. Walshe and colleagues (2022) conducted a survey to understand the roles and deployment of volunteers in hospice palliative care services as these services have adjusted to the impact of COVID-19. This study found that: the reduction in volunteer deployment has been sustained and has negatively impacted quality of care; volunteer training shifted to online; and few organizations have created new volunteer roles or ways of working. Organizations need to consider how to attract a younger volunteer demographic through new opportunities. Virtual or remote volunteering can be further developed in inclusive and equitable ways. Read more…
HPCO’s Annual Conference
For any questions or information about the HPCO Annual Conference, please contact:
Conference Manager
Hospice Palliative Care Ontario
808-2 Carlton Street
Toronto, ON M5B 1J3
416-304-1477 or 1-(800)-349-3111 ext. 223
Resources for Families
“A Caregiver’s Guide”
You can also request your free copy of "A Caregiver's Guide: A Handbook About End-of-Life Care" by contacting Nav Dhillon at nav.dhillon@hpco.ca