This paper summarizes the results of a qualitative study of hospice volunteering in the rural communities of northwestern Ontario. In this region, there are 13 independent and active hospice volunteer programs serving communities ranging in population from 1,000 to 15,000. The 13 volunteer coordinators in these communities participated in a phone interview in which they described the role of hospice volunteers in their community and the kinds of clients they serve. The results indicate that the hospice volunteers in this rural region spend a large part of their time visiting medically frail and lonely seniors who are at risk of dying alone or without adequate care and companionship at the end of life. Long-term visiting to build relationships of trust and genuine caring are considered the ideal in these communities. Implications for end-of-life care for rural seniors are discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
CummingsI, FerrisFD, BalfourHM, BowenK, FarleyJ, HardwickM, . A Model to Guide Hospice Palliative Care: based on national principles and norms of practice. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association, 2002.
2.
Health Canada Secretariat on Palliative and End-of-Life Care. National Action Planning Workshop on End-of-Life Care: workshop report. Winnipeg, Manitoba: Health Canada, 2002.
3.
AllardP, WeaverL, RothsteinJ.Developing a resource agenda for volunteer services in palliative care. J Palliat Care2002; 18 (3):218–218.
4.
BrazilK, McCaineyC, Caron-ObrienM, KelleyML, O'KrafkaP, Sturdy-SmithC.Quality end-of-life care in long-term care facilities: service providers perspective. J Palliat Care2004; 20 (2):85–92.
5.
BrazilK, ThomasD.The role of volunteers in a hospital-based palliative care service. J Palliat Care1995; 11 (3):40–42.
6.
Guirguis-YoungerM, RunnelsV, AubryT.Conceptual models for end-of-life care in persons who are ho-meless. Paper presented at the A Community Forum on Homelessness: Linking Ottawa Research with Action and Policy, Ottawa, Ontario, 2004.
7.
McKimA, BurgeF, CanningK, CummingsI, Dur-keshireS, RowswellC, SimpsonJ.A Rural Palliative Care Home Care Model: development and evaluation of an Integrated palliative care program in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Halifax, Nova Scotia: Province of Nova Scotia, 2001.
8.
OuelletteD.Volunteer issues committee: literature review. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association, 2004.
9.
EgbertN, ParrottR.Empathy and social support for the terminally ill: implications for recruiting and retaining hospice and hospital volunteers. Communication Studies2003; 54 (1):18–34.
AllardP, BrajtmanS, BrazilK, Guirguis-YoungerM, LegaultF, MacPhersonC, . Optimizing research on end-of-life care for Seniors. Geriatrics Today2003; 6: 173–176.
12.
RossM, FisherR, MacLeanM.Toward optimal care for seniors who are dying: an approach to care. Mature Medicine Canada2000; June-August: 127–130.
13.
Health Canada. Palliative Care: information sheet for seniors. Ottawa, Ontario: Health Canada Division of Aging and Seniors, 1998.
14.
NorthcottH, WilsonD.Dying and Death in Canada. Aurora, Ontario: Garamond Press, 2001.
15.
BrotmanSL, YaffeMJ. Are physicians meeting the needs of the family caregivers of the frail elderly?Can Fam Physician1994; 40: 679–685.
RomanowRJ. Building on Values: the future of health care in Canada. Ottawa, Ontario: Government of Canada, Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada, 2002.
18.
Senate Committee on Social Affairs Science and Technology. Quality End-of-Life Care: The Right of Every Canadian. Ottawa, Ontario: Government of Canada, 2000.
19.
BullC, BainS.The rural elderly: providers’ perceptions of barriers to service delivery. Sociol Pract1993-94; 11: 98–116.
20.
GieslerW, RickettsT (eds). Health in Rural North America. Camden, New York: Rutgers University Press, 1992.
21.
BarerML, StoddartGL. Improving access to needed medical services in rural and Canadian communities: recruitment and retention revisited. Ottawa, Ontario: Discussion paper prepared for Federal/Provincial/Territorial Advisory Committee on Health Human Resources, 1999.
22.
BusbyA.When your client lives in a rural area. Part 11: Rural professional practice considerations for nurses providing mental health care. Issues in Mental Health Nursing1994; 15: 253–266.
23.
Society of Rural Physicians of Canada. Comment on “Improving access to needed medical services in rural and Canadian Communities”. Society of Rural Physicians of Canada, 2000. Available at: www.srpc.ca/librarydocs/commenbs.htm. Accessed January 2000.
24.
GlaserB, StraussL.The Discovery of Grounded Theory. New York: Aldine de Gruyter, 1967.
