Celebrating our volunteers
This Volunteers’ Week, we’re highlighting the roles our volunteers play in directly supporting our patients and those closest to them. From bereavement support and care navigation to complementary therapy and carer support, these are just some of the ways our volunteers help provide outstanding end-of-life care to those in need…
Providing respite and relaxation
Complementary Therapist, Sarah, joined Hospiscare as a volunteer to put her skills in massage, aromatherapy, and reflexology to good use, helping people living with terminal illness to relax and unwind. Like many of our volunteers, Sarah came to us through a personal connection, after we cared for her gran.
“I always remember how amazing the staff were. It’s such a unique place to work because everyone who is working here is working with a real purpose.
“I remember being on the Welcome Day as a volunteer and thinking, ‘I feel like I’ve arrived home – I feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be’.”
Helping loved ones through grief
Volunteers also play a vital role in our bereavement support service, undergoing training with our bereavement counsellor, and often utilising their own professional or personal experiences, to provide a listening ear to those who have lost a loved one.
The service helped widower Pete when his wife of 34 years, Tina, died on our ward from cancer. Speaking about the support he received, Pete said:
“Grief is a very hard thing to talk about, but it’s got to be talked about because you’ve got to carry on. Hospiscare can’t solve your problems. It can’t create a cure where you have three sessions with Hospiscare and you’re alright. You’re the only one that can do it, but they’ll help you. We go through the suffering, but they understand that we’re suffering and they live it with us.
“You’ll always be in that tunnel of not knowing how you’re going to get on with your life… I’m still in it, but I’m starting to see a bit of light.”
Former nurse and midwife, Liz, has been volunteering with Hospiscare for more than 21 years and trained with us to become a bereavement volunteer.
“I love volunteering for Hospiscare. It’s a really kind, caring and compassionate organisation. If you have time why wouldn’t you volunteer? It is the most extraordinary experience.”
Supporting patients and their families in the community and at home
Our volunteer care navigators offer practical and emotional support to patients and their families. They visit people at home and perform many tasks, including talking about any concerns; collecting shopping, prescriptions and library books; accompanying people on walks or trips out; and helping with tasks such as filling in forms, writing letters and accessing digital services.
One of our specialist community nurses was blown away recently by the support given by a volunteer care navigator, Sallie, to a patient who was sadly homeless. Here, Lesley explains the difference Sallie made:
“Sallie literally changed the life of a patient in desperate need of help. The patient was signposted to us from a local homeless charity and had just been told she had only a few months to live. She was very distressed, on her own and not knowing where to turn.
“Sallie took the patient under her wing, visiting frequently and focusing on what was most important to her that day: laundry, a replacement bank card, attending appointments, helping to sort out her affairs one step at a time, and keeping a close eye on her while respecting her privacy and boundaries. Sallie made sure the patient had a friend with her in her last hours and arranged a memorial service after her death, welcoming the homeless community. The difference she made to the last part of the patient’s life is beyond words.”
Driving for Hospiscare
Gaynor originally volunteered as a driver, taking patients to and from appointments, before she became one of our first post-pandemic transport support volunteers.
Transport support volunteers help pick up prescription items and deliver them to patients’ homes, releasing time for the nurses to focus on care of the patients and their families.
“I really enjoy my role, and I’ve been able to get to know so many people,” said Gaynor. “I get a lot of satisfaction knowing I’m helping patients, and also helping Hospiscare’s nurses.”
Creating a “home away from home”
Our aim at Hospiscare is give the best possible care to those at the end of life. At our ward in Exeter, this includes creating a home-away-from-home where our patients and their families can relax as much as possible and spend quality time together.
To achieve that, our gardening volunteers spend time in the hospice garden week-in, week-out, come rain or shine, to create a welcoming outdoor space that patients and families can enjoy together. Their green-fingered touch makes a huge difference to those in our care.
These stories encapsulate just a fraction of the difference our volunteers make, in all aspects of our care, as well as playing a truly vital role in helping to raise the funds our charity needs to provide that care to local people at the end of their lives.
From all of us at Hospiscare, we give a huge “thank you” to all our wonderful volunteers giving such fantastic support in their many roles.
