There is a growing body of evidence that older adults who volunteer benefit from improved mental and physical health, cognitive functioning, social-wellbeing, and life satisfaction, with some experts even recommending that volunteering be promoted by public health, education and policy practitioners as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Older adults, with their lifetime of experiences, are especially valued as Palliative Care Volunteers.

What is palliative care? Put simply, palliative care helps people of all ages with a life-limiting illness to live their life, from initial diagnosis, as fully and as comfortably as possible.

There are multiple ways volunteers can use their unique skills to improve the wellbeing of people in palliative care and their families, from being a community visitor, to capturing a life story, being a pet helper, to behind-the-scenes assembly of nurture packages. Volunteering for Palliative Care, in whatever capacity, can be a rewarding and deeply meaningful experience.

Eve, a Palliative Care volunteer for 11 years, says “you can make a very special difference to those who are experiencing a difficult time in their lives, just by being there.”

While Clare, another Palliative Care community volunteer, acknowledges that the rewards outweigh moments when “it can be sad and challenging”. Clare says, “I believe that it often ‘gives’ as much to me as I am able to ‘give’.”

If you are interested in volunteering, contact the Palliative Care Volunteer SA Project to get started now! Palliative Care Volunteering SA Hub - Palliative Care SA, pcvolunteering@palliativecaresa.org.au or call on 08 7079 0188. Thanks to SA Health for supporting this project as part of the Palliative Care Connect program.