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The September digest focuses on the unique and diverse contributions of volunteers in palliative care. Why is every US hospice operating under Medicare legally required to have a volunteer service? What did researchers find out about the role of volunteers in five European countries? How do therapy dogs provide comfort not only to patients but also to families—even at memorial services? What occurs when volunteers assist patients with rehabilitation at home, working alongside professionals? And finally, how do thousands of ‘finishing crafters’ around the world help families preserve a tangible memory of their loved ones? Read more in the articles below.
If you wish to continue any of the topics listed below in the form of a discussion or webinar, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@paced.org.uk.
The September digest focuses on the unique and diverse contributions of volunteers in palliative care. Why is every US hospice operating under Medicare legally required to have a volunteer service? What did researchers find out about the role of volunteers in five European countries? How do therapy dogs provide comfort not only to patients but also to families—even at memorial services? What occurs when volunteers assist patients with rehabilitation at home, working alongside professionals? And finally, how do thousands of ‘finishing crafters’ around the world help families preserve a tangible memory of their loved ones? Read more in the articles below.
If you wish to continue any of the topics listed below in the form of a discussion or webinar, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@paced.org.uk.
If you are a palliative care specialist representing one of the PACED countries and wish to join our community—please fill out this form, and we will contact you promptly.
Hospice Nurse Julie on the Role of Volunteers in Hospice Care
Hospice nurse and video blogger, Hospice Nurse Julie, explains why volunteering is a vital part of hospice services in the United States. Every organisation operating within the Medicare system is legally required to have a volunteer programme. In her video, Julie details the tasks performed by volunteers, how they assist, and the criteria that prospective hospice volunteers must meet.
Pay close attention to Julie’s practical advice. For instance, she recommends a simple plan for a volunteer’s conversation with a patient, which can help newcomers to hospice care feel more confident.
This is an excellent example of an educational video for supporting and training volunteers.
Watch the video: https://youtu.be/5bSbcN8_RsU?si=4VduTayk_c72smid
Hospice nurse and video blogger, Hospice Nurse Julie, explains why volunteering is a vital part of hospice services in the United States. Every organisation operating within the Medicare system is legally required to have a volunteer programme. In her video, Julie details the tasks performed by volunteers, how they assist, and the criteria that prospective hospice volunteers must meet.
Pay close attention to Julie’s practical advice. For instance, she recommends a simple plan for a volunteer’s conversation with a patient, which can help newcomers to hospice care feel more confident.
This is an excellent example of an educational video for supporting and training volunteers.
Watch the video: https://youtu.be/5bSbcN8_RsU?si=4VduTayk_c72smid
Volunteers at the End of Life: The Experiences in Five European Countries
The role of volunteers in palliative care is difficult to overstate: they assist patients in overcoming neglect, act as a ‘substitute family’, and bridge the gap between patients and society. A study published in Palliative Medicine examines the training, implementation, and assessment of volunteer services in hospices across five European countries: the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, and the United Kingdom. According to researchers, the main benefit of volunteers is their ability to ‘simply be there’ for patients—unlike medical staff, who are often overwhelmed with duties. In many cases, volunteers supported not only patients but also their families. Another key conclusion of the study is that the role of volunteers is likely to become even more important in palliative care systems, not only in Europe but also in many other regions.
Read the article: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/02692163251328197
The role of volunteers in palliative care is difficult to overstate: they assist patients in overcoming neglect, act as a ‘substitute family’, and bridge the gap between patients and society. A study published in Palliative Medicine examines the training, implementation, and assessment of volunteer services in hospices across five European countries: the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, and the United Kingdom. According to researchers, the main benefit of volunteers is their ability to ‘simply be there’ for patients—unlike medical staff, who are often overwhelmed with duties. In many cases, volunteers supported not only patients but also their families. Another key conclusion of the study is that the role of volunteers is likely to become even more important in palliative care systems, not only in Europe but also in many other regions.
Read the article: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/02692163251328197
Hospice Volunteers and Their Four-Legged Companions
Alison Eckert, volunteer coordinator at Parkview Hospice in Indiana, USA, shares how volunteers, along with trained therapy dogs, visit hospice patients. Pet therapy offers comfort to patients and their families, which can sometimes be hard for people to give. Alison discusses her experiences, explains how volunteers are recruited and trained, and shows photos of their four-legged helpers. In 2025, therapy dogs also started attending memorial services for former hospice patients. They welcome guests and help create a warm, calm atmosphere. As Alison highlights, it is remarkable how animals can support people during tough times—often just through their presence.
Read the article: https://www.parkview.com/blog/hospice-volunteers-and-their-four-legged-best-friends?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Alison Eckert, volunteer coordinator at Parkview Hospice in Indiana, USA, shares how volunteers, along with trained therapy dogs, visit hospice patients. Pet therapy offers comfort to patients and their families, which can sometimes be hard for people to give. Alison discusses her experiences, explains how volunteers are recruited and trained, and shows photos of their four-legged helpers. In 2025, therapy dogs also started attending memorial services for former hospice patients. They welcome guests and help create a warm, calm atmosphere. As Alison highlights, it is remarkable how animals can support people during tough times—often just through their presence.
Read the article: https://www.parkview.com/blog/hospice-volunteers-and-their-four-legged-best-friends?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Engaging Volunteers to Broaden Access to Palliative Care Rehabilitation
British hospices operate outpatient rehabilitation programmes for individuals with progressive illnesses, but many patients miss out on this support due to limited mobility or the heavy burden on their families. This article describes the Living Well at Home Team project at St Christopher’s Hospice in London. The initiative involves specially trained volunteers who assist patients in receiving rehabilitation support within their own homes. Volunteers do not replace professionals but work closely with a multidisciplinary team, helping patients with daily exercises, encouraging them to stay active, maintain independence, and retain control over their lives. This approach has improved access to rehabilitation, decreased the workload on staff, and enabled more patients to benefit. The authors highlight that this volunteer-based model could become a vital tool for healthcare systems aiming to provide equitable access to palliative care, and it opens new opportunities for integrating rehabilitation into end-of-life care.
Read the article: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/rehabilitation-sciences/articles/10.3389/fresc.2023.1229442/full
British hospices operate outpatient rehabilitation programmes for individuals with progressive illnesses, but many patients miss out on this support due to limited mobility or the heavy burden on their families. This article describes the Living Well at Home Team project at St Christopher’s Hospice in London. The initiative involves specially trained volunteers who assist patients in receiving rehabilitation support within their own homes. Volunteers do not replace professionals but work closely with a multidisciplinary team, helping patients with daily exercises, encouraging them to stay active, maintain independence, and retain control over their lives. This approach has improved access to rehabilitation, decreased the workload on staff, and enabled more patients to benefit. The authors highlight that this volunteer-based model could become a vital tool for healthcare systems aiming to provide equitable access to palliative care, and it opens new opportunities for integrating rehabilitation into end-of-life care.
Read the article: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/rehabilitation-sciences/articles/10.3389/fresc.2023.1229442/full
Loose Ends Project—So Simple and Incredibly Helpful
This is not merely an article but an inspiring volunteer initiative we wish to share. Volunteers from around the world join the community named Loose Ends and help complete unfinished handmade items left behind after the death or disability of their makers. These ‘finishing crafters’ support families in coping with grief through knitting, sewing, embroidery, quilting, weaving, and other types of handicrafts. Thanks to them, unfinished projects are not wasted but transformed into cherished keepsakes for family or friends. The Loose Ends Project unites 34,000 volunteers and has aided thousands of families in 84 countries in preserving a tangible expression of the love and care of their late or ill loved ones.
Learn more about the project: https://looseends.org/
This is not merely an article but an inspiring volunteer initiative we wish to share. Volunteers from around the world join the community named Loose Ends and help complete unfinished handmade items left behind after the death or disability of their makers. These ‘finishing crafters’ support families in coping with grief through knitting, sewing, embroidery, quilting, weaving, and other types of handicrafts. Thanks to them, unfinished projects are not wasted but transformed into cherished keepsakes for family or friends. The Loose Ends Project unites 34,000 volunteers and has aided thousands of families in 84 countries in preserving a tangible expression of the love and care of their late or ill loved ones.
Learn more about the project: https://looseends.org/
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