Abstract
Next-of-kins’ experiences when using volunteers for palliative patients living at homeThe aim of this study was to illuminate next-of-kins’ experiences when using volunteers supplementing community health care services for palliative patients living at home. The study has a qualitative approach. Nine individual interviews were conducted with next of kin from a municipality in Southern Norway. Use of volunteers for palliative care in the home was a relief for next-of-kin, especially prominent for families who had limited social network. Planned volunteering resulted in the best results. Use of volunteer was also found helpful for families as they were given a "breathing space" and a certain normalization of everyday life. The volunteers followed up activities related to the patient that the next-of-kin to a limited extent managed to attend. This affected the next-of-kin’s conscience in a positive way. The next-of-kin experienced the volunteers to be empathetic, they could inspire confidence and showed good characteristics to assist ill people and their next-of-kin. The next-of-kin needed regular relief from volunteers as a supplement to the community health care services. The volunteers were well suited to meet people, who were in a difficult situation, and with their approach they had strong confidence in the next-of-kin and gave them relief in a challenging environment. The coordinator for palliative care was a key person in relation to the link between families, patients in palliative care and the volunteers.
Highlights
Norge har lang tradisjon med bruk av frivillig arbeid innen omsorgssektoren (St.meld. nr. 23 (2012-2013))
Use of volunteers for palliative care in the home was a relief for next-of-kin, especially prominent for families who had limited social network
Planned volunteering resulted in the best results
Summary
Norge har lang tradisjon med bruk av frivillig arbeid innen omsorgssektoren (St.meld. nr. 23 (2012-2013)). Denne studien handler om pårørendes erfaringer med frivillig hjelp ved alvorlig sykdom i hjemmet. Ordningen med frivillige for den hjemmeboende syke pasienten kan derfor også ses på som et tilbud for å avlaste de pårørende (Claxton-Oldfield 2015; RO 2015). Det ble derfor viktig å forbygge pårørendes helse, ved å iverksette tiltak som kunne avlaste de pårørende i forhold til den belastningen det innebar å ha hjemmeboende alvorlige syke pasienter (Aoun, Toye, Deas, Howting, Ewing, Grande og Stajduhar 2015). Mens pårørende opplever følelsesmessig støtte, et fellesskap, samt praktisk hjelp i form av avløsning, opplever også de frivillige at de har en viktig funksjon både inn mot pasienten og deres pårørende (Claxton-Oldfield 2015). Hensikt Hensikten med studien var å belyse pårørendes erfaringer med frivillige, som supplement til offentlig omsorg, ved alvorlig sykdom i hjemmet
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