Networking with the gay community to meet the needs of AIDS patients: special considerations for volunteer training.

Abstract

Volunteershavebeen an essential component of U.S. hospicessince the foundingof the first hospicein this countryin 1974.The rapid growthof hospiceshas led to an increasein the numberof hospicevolunteersserving terminally ill patientsand their families.In aneffortto meetthe emotional, spiritual,andphysicalneedsof patientswith an increasinglybroad spectrumof terminalillnesses, hospice programshavebegunrecruitingvolunteersfrom non-traditionalgroups. Volunteershavetypicallybeenmarried women who werenot employed outsidethehome,butthishaschanged. Currently, two thirds of the nation’s volunteersare women betweenthe agesof 25-44yearswhoareemployed outsidethe home, with working men andwomenbecomingthemostrapidly growing portionof thosewho volunteer.1 The rapidgrowth in thenumberof personswith AIDS (PWAs) who are terminally ill has led to increased demandson both formal andinformal supportsystemsto provideemotional, spiritual, and physicalassistance.2 With the helpof organizationswithin thegay community,hospiceprograms havebegunrecruitingandtraininggay volunteerstocareforPWAs.3Although little isknownaboutthe relativecosts and benefitsof matching volunteers with terminallyill patientsaccordingto commoncharacteristics,4thegaycommunityhasproventobegenerousin its caringfor PWAs.5 This article will describespecial aspectsof avolunteertrainingprogram developedjointly by St. Anthony’s HospiceandLife EnrichmentProgram and the Metropolitan Community Church. Membersof this church, whose ministry is to the gay/lesbian community,were trainedto work as hospicevolunteerswith PWAs. Networking