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21฀ The Use of Volunteers in Bereavement Care Eddie Ho Chuen CHAN Introduction Volunteer participatio n i s widely developed i n man y sectors in Hon g Kong . To volunteer i s to give service willingly of one's ow n accord. Volunteers giv e their time, skills, thoughts and talents to contribute to the community, without any monetary reward. Volunteering is probably a feature o f an affluent society , but i t is also a mark o f a society in which th e peopl e ar e luck y and wan t t o give som e o f tha t luc k b y doin g thing s fo r thos e wh o ar e les s fortunate . Volunteers form a n integra l an d enrichin g part of hospice palliativ e care al l over th e world.1 Is this also the mai n reaso n wh y volunteers ar e involve d i n hospice palliativ e care ? Larson2 revealed i n hi s survey of hospice volunteer s that th e followin g motivation s ar e mos t frequentl y cited : "Becaus e I enjo y helping othe r people" , "Becaus e o f m y values, convictions , an d beliefs" , "Because I consider mysel f to be a loving and carin g person", "T o learn ho w to help people who are terminally ill or dying", and "T o help members of my community". Payner s study3 reported simila r reasons for becomin g a hospice palliative care volunteer . The Comfor t Car e Concer n Grou p (CCCG , i i ^ # ) i s a volunteer oriented organizatio n providin g service s for th e bereaved an d terminall y ill. This chapter describe s the involvement of volunteers in Hong Kon g hospic e palliative care, by sharing my practical wisdom. Volunteering in Hospice Palliative Care in Hong Kong Not muc h i s documented abou t voluntee r wor k i n hospic e palliativ e care . Chung4 stated tha t voluntary work is closely related t o the professional tea m providing care for patient s and thei r families a t the beginning o f the hospic e movement in Hong Kong in the 1980s . By donating their effort an d concern , volunteers help ensure the smooth functioning o f a hospice programme, bot h in th e administrativ e are a and i n helpin g directl y with th e patients, familie s 286฀Eddie ฀Ho฀Chuen ฀CHAN฀ i and significant others. By being directly involved in the programme, volunteers enhance communit y connection s an d encourag e communit y awareness . By reviewing loca l hospic e unit s an d organizations , volunteer s serv e i n th e following fou r majo r categorie s of services: 1. Administrativ e suppor t 2. Direc t contact with patients o r families (i n wards) 3. Bereavemen t car e voluntee r 4. Membe r o f the governing board o f directors. Bereavement฀Care฀Offered฀by฀CCCG฀ CCCG delivers comfort car e services to people facing death and bereavement , via participation b y volunteers, which is the major feature . Volunteer trainin g Befriending visitatio n Teams Individual an d grou p grief counsellin g Funeral suppor t Phone consultatio n service Widow-to-widow service (bereaved volunteer ) Community educatio n Six-session trainin g courses , one an d a half hour s per session . Conten t cover s terminall y il l an d bereavement i n physical , psychological an d socia l perspectives, resource s for th e clients , technique s and skill s in visitation. Those passing the intervie w as registere d volunteer s i n CCC G ca n join an y visitation group . CCCG provides befriending visitatio n for si x hospice ward s i n si x hospital s wit h thirtee n volunteer teams . Home visit is by referral . Individual bereavement counselling and structure d group counsellin g i s give n b y socia l workers . Bereaved volunteers joining the group can facilitat e the group process . The bereave d ar e accompanie d b y volunteers fo r the following services: (a) confirmatio n o f a funera l rite an d date , (b ) deat h registry , (c ) bod y identification, (d ) procedur e fo r cremation , (e ) participation i n th e funera l ritual , an d (f...

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