The development of a hospice junior volunteer program.

Area of Science:

• Palliative Care
• Gerontology
• Community Health

Background:

• Volunteer services are integral to hospice care, mandated by Medicare guidelines in the United States.
• Volunteers offer crucial support to patients, families, and interdisciplinary hospice teams.
• Engaging younger individuals in hospice care can foster a compassionate community approach to end-of-life support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and implementation of a junior volunteer program within a hospice setting.
• To explore the potential of involving adolescents in providing care to the terminally ill.
• To establish a model for hospice junior volunteer programs in community healthcare.

Main Methods:

• Program development outlining recruitment, training, and integration of junior volunteers.
• Implementation strategies detailing the operationalization of the program at St. Thomas Hospice.
• Evaluation of the program's structure and initial impact on the hospice environment.

Main Results:

• Successful establishment of a junior volunteer program at St. Thomas Hospice.
• Demonstrated feasibility of engaging teenagers in providing supportive services within hospice care.
• Positive reception and integration of junior volunteers by patients, families, and staff.

Conclusions:

• Junior volunteer programs are a viable and beneficial addition to hospice services.
• Engaging teens in end-of-life care can enhance community support and understanding.
• The St. Thomas Hospice model provides a framework for implementing similar programs elsewhere.