Understanding the Role and Deployment of Volunteers Within Specialist Palliative Care Services and Organisations as They Have Adjusted to the COVID-19

The authors surveyed palliative care stakeholders to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic affected volunteering in related programs around the world. More than 300 organizations responded, 47.0% of which cared for people with COVID-19. The authors found there were decreases in the numbers of volunteers in patient and family-facing roles, while the volunteers tended to be younger. More than half reported that a decrease in volunteers impacted patient care and patient isolation. Future considerations for volunteering should consider virtual delivery, micro-volunteering, and appealing to younger volunteers.