Contribution analysis of service provided by trained volunteers to people with a terminal diagnosis living in the community.
Introduction
Community based support is a recognised public health approach to end of life care because communities have skills, capacity and networks to support each other before and after end of life.
A collaborative training scheme supplementing local volunteers’ existing skills and wisdom to provide compassionate non-medical end of life care to palliative patients will be integrated with primary care. This will allow more people to make informed choices and enact end of life care preferences outside of a hospital setting.
Project aims
- Loneliness and isolation is reduced
- Emotional needs/holding space/listening will be supported
- Signposting and consideration of alternative ways to approach pain management will allow alignment of care wishes with alternative health care services, promoting equality and inclusion
- Advocacy support will aid a patients wishes to be followed
- Facilitating conversation with family will provide an open forum for discussion
- Discussions around death and planning will be focused and productive
Project activity
- 61 Trained Companions
- Over 208 directly referred patients supported between January 2022 and April 2024
- A 300% increase in referrals received between September - December 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, thanks to our expanding network of trained compassionate volunteers.
Impact
NHS Outcomes Framework Domains & Indicators
Domain 1 Preventing people from dying prematurely
Domain 2 Enhancing quality of life for people with long-term conditions
Domain 3 Helping people to recover from episodes of ill-health or following injury
Domain 4 Ensuring people have a positive experience of care
Domain 5 Treating and caring for people in safe environment and protecting them from avoidable harm
