How to continue to attract the kind of volunteers we need in hospice: what the future holds.

Abstract

Thereis increasinganecdotal evidencethat ashospicesgrow in size andcomplexity, volunteercontributionsdecreasein importance—inspiteof the Medicarerequirementsandthe bestintentionsof directions andstaff. I basethis statementon commentsmadeby speakersand theaudienceat two recent meetingsat which I wasapresenter:A September1987conferencefor DirectorsandCoordinatorsof VolunteersServices heldby theNew York State HospiceAssociationin New York City andoneof thesessionsat the 1987NHO annual meeting. Without moredefinitive data,generalizationsaboutthe changesin volunteerservices mustbe treatedcautiously.But no onein the two meetings deniedthat conditionsgoverning the useof volunteershad changedquite drasticallyin mosthospices,andnot for the better.Onewomanat the NYSHA conferenceexpressed it well whenshesaid,“When our hospicehadonly a few staff, we hadto rely upon the volunteersto be our eyesand ears.Now the nursesdo it all.