Baycrest - End of Life Volunteer Manual
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• Inability to make decisions
• Confusion or forgetfulness
• Aggression
• Racing thoughts and inability to "switch off"
• Restlessness or feeling jumpy
• Unrealistic expectations
• Increasingly critical outlook or intolerance
• Stomach pain, allergies, or urinary problems
THE STRESSES OF BEING A PALLIATIVE CARE VOLUNTEER
Supporting a dying person and family can be stressful and
exhausting. Volunteers come to care about the families they are
helping but these relationships have a bitter-sweet quality to them
because we know that there will be a final "good bye". The
connection will be short and intense, and it can be draining.
Many different factors can cause stress for the volunteer, including:
• Factors related to the dying person such as: problems with
symptom control, psychiatric or personality issues and anger or
anxiety over dying
• Trying to support a dysfunctional family
• Workload
• Lack of clarity about their role, lack of communication or
conflict with other members of the team
• Lack of resources or administrative problems in the program
• Balancing the demands of their volunteer work with their other
responsibilities (e.g. family, work, leisure)
• Inadequate training for the role
• Stresses in their own personal lives
• Unrealistic expectations for themselves
• The challenge of just "being" with someone rather than
"doing" for them
