The hospice volunteer is viewed as an integral member of a multidisciplinary team, with various roles directed at enhancing the quality of life of patients and their families. The purpose of this study is to provide an integrated picture of the hospice volunteer, their role, the human dimensions of this role and the impact this has on their lives as not much has been written in literature about this specific sub-group of hospice workers. The context of the study is a hospice in Gauteng where the researcher works as a volunteer. The ethnographic case study has been chosen as an appropriate research design as it explores the above phenomenon from the volunteers' point of view. The subjects are three volunteers who have been active at the hospice for at least twelve months. Evidence in terms of specific interviews and observations are used to draw conclusions. The interviews are based on a minimal number of open-ended questions. The primary method of analysis is the examination of transcripts from these in-depth interviews. A thematic analysis is carried out in which a detailed description of the emerging themes are given. Four major themes are identified and explored: Description of the role; The experience of being a volunteer; A way of coping; and The influence of the hospice culture. Sub-themes that emerge within each case study vary due to the individual nature of the experience of the role. Themes are explored in light of current theory and findings. This was to note the similarities and differences of this specific sub-group of volunteers compared to others found in the literature reviewed for this study. As there is a scarcity of literature pertaining specifically to hospice volunteers, the study depends mostly on writings pertaining to hospice staff and volunteers in general. A summary and integration of the core findings of the three case studies is given and their similarities and differences are explored. How some of the different themes interlink is also discussed. Although various sub-themes found in the individual case studies are significant to the individual cases, some of them can be incorporated into common themes when looking at the volunteers as a group. The strengths and limitations of the study are discussed as well as recommendations for the hospice organisation and further research. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

In English / This study investigates the resilience of caregivers at a Gauteng-based hospice with patients living with HIV/AIDS. The primary focus of this study was to describe the impact on caregivers working with terminally ill patients predominantly with HIV/AIDS. Six participants were selected for this study utilising purposive sampling. Their ages ranged between 30 and 70 years. For the purpose of data collection, face-to-face semi-structured interviews were undertaken. In analysing data, the themes and sub-themes were extracted and presented by employing thematic analysis. The findings of this study revealed that in times of adversity and setbacks most caregivers utilise various skills to bounce back, and they still showed contentment in serving community members. However, caregivers have also voiced the concern that the support offered at work was not sufficient in meeting their needs. Recommendations for further research, on the resilience of caregivers when working with terminally ill patients is highlighted. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

In English / This study investigates the resilience of caregivers at a Gauteng-based hospice with patients living with HIV/AIDS. The primary focus of this study was to describe the impact on caregivers working with terminally ill patients predominantly with HIV/AIDS. Six participants were selected for this study utilising purposive sampling. Their ages ranged between 30 and 70 years. For the purpose of data collection, face-to-face semi-structured interviews were undertaken. In analysing data, the themes and sub-themes were extracted and presented by employing thematic analysis. The findings of this study revealed that in times of adversity and setbacks most caregivers utilise various skills to bounce back, and they still showed contentment in serving community members. However, caregivers have also voiced the concern that the support offered at work was not sufficient in meeting their needs. Recommendations for further research, on the resilience of caregivers when working with terminally ill patients is highlighted. / Psychology / M. A. (Clinical Psychology)

The thesis deals with a problem whether it is ethical to end one´s own life. It reflects various situations where life is at stake, such as suicide, self-killing, martyrdom and euthanasia. The thesis is structured to reflect individual phenomena. In the same time, it opines about suicide problems from a point of view of social work and it describes how an individual with suicidal tendencies can be helped.

The hospice volunteer is viewed as an integral member of a multidisciplinary team, with various roles directed at enhancing the quality of life of patients and their families. The purpose of this study is to provide an integrated picture of the hospice volunteer, their role, the human dimensions of this role and the impact this has on their lives as not much has been written in literature about this specific sub-group of hospice workers. The context of the study is a hospice in Gauteng where the researcher works as a volunteer. The ethnographic case study has been chosen as an appropriate research design as it explores the above phenomenon from the volunteers' point of view. The subjects are three volunteers who have been active at the hospice for at least twelve months. Evidence in terms of specific interviews and observations are used to draw conclusions. The interviews are based on a minimal number of open-ended questions. The primary method of analysis is the examination of transcripts from these in-depth interviews. A thematic analysis is carried out in which a detailed description of the emerging themes are given. Four major themes are identified and explored: Description of the role; The experience of being a volunteer; A way of coping; and The influence of the hospice culture. Sub-themes that emerge within each case study vary due to the individual nature of the experience of the role. Themes are explored in light of current theory and findings. This was to note the similarities and differences of this specific sub-group of volunteers compared to others found in the literature reviewed for this study. As there is a scarcity of literature pertaining specifically to hospice volunteers, the study depends mostly on writings pertaining to hospice staff and volunteers in general. A summary and integration of the core findings of the three case studies is given and their similarities and differences are explored. How some of the different themes interlink is also discussed. Although various sub-themes found in the individual case studies are significant to the individual cases, some of them can be incorporated into common themes when looking at the volunteers as a group. The strengths and limitations of the study are discussed as well as recommendations for the hospice organisation and further research. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

This diploma thesis deals with the theme of changing the life values in the context of the death and dying. The theoretical part is divided into two sections. First of them is focused on the attitudes to the death by the various disciplines, the second one is focused on the life values, specifics and experience with the process of dying. The practical part maps the attitudes to the death by the three groups of respondents ? the group of dying clients of hospices, the group of their family members and the last is the group of the staff (of residence and home hospice care). There are compared their responses with the results of another researches and thesis dealing with analogous topic in the Discussion. The main result of this thesis is that the most important values accented by the contact of the coming death are not the material values (like money, possesion), but the values connected with the quality interpersonal relations and family background like esteem, love, loyalty, devotion and gratitude is.

This diploma work deals with hospice and a quality of care given to the clients of the hospice, that fully covers complex needs, changing during a life limiting illness, taking in account the dignity of the human being to the very last moment of his life. This care is a promise for a man, that he won´t be alone in the burdensome moments of his life. There are a hospice management and various forms of hospice care in Czech Republic described in a theoretical part of the work. This chapter is to be a handbook for providing companionship to the dying person and is to draw our attention not only to the changing priorities of the dying person and to stages, that he is to go through, but to an irreplaceable role of a caregiver at his bed. In a practical part of this work there are investigated the attitudes of the caregivers in hospice and public to the process of dying of the human being. The founded results of the research show, that people finding themselves in a final stage of the life-limiting illness change their priorities; the spiritual needs become more important, especially to attain a peace with self, with other people; clients trusting in God long for consilience with God; the results of the research show however, that most public is not familiar enough with the problem of dying and death, and that there is generally low knowledge on how to provide companionship to the dying person.

The hospital of the Holy Spirit in Krnov in 14th to 16th century in context of medieval hospice care in middle Europe
 The thesis is focused on the hospital of the Holy Spirit in Krnov in 14th to 16th century and his inclusion into the context of medieval hospice care in the middle Europe. It is based on proseminar and seminar works focused on medieval hospice care and in importance and theme is follow up of author's Bachelor thesis Špitál sv. Alžběty ve Wrocławi v širším kontextu středověkého špitálnictví ve střední Evropě (The hospital of st. Elisabeth in Wrocław in wider context of medieval hospitality in middle Europe). The hospital if Holy Spirit was erected in later period than hospital of St. Elisabeth. That is the reason why is the diploma thesis focused of hospitals which was erected in the peak of the Middle Ages these hospitals have got period of main development during the late Middle Ages. In the second chapter the thesis will be focused on analysis of the residential topography of this religious center in scope of medieval Krnov. In chapters 3rd to 6th will be exceptionally from the larger part based on the basic modern literature because the oldest literature is absent or unreliable. Medieval part of the hospital of Holy Spirit is these days existing only in rudiments and base of...

Palliative care is one of the crucial services provided by social workers to improve the quality of life of people suffering from life-threatening illnesses. It is an inter-disciplinary medical care giving approach which focuses on relieving symptoms and stress of life threatening illness. To my knowledge there is limited guidelines on how social workers should intervene in providing palliative care services. Therefore, this study will the explore experiences of social workers in rendering palliative care services to people faced with life-threatening illnesses. The study will follow a qualitative research approach. Purposive and snowball sampling will be employed to frame the sample of social workers who render palliative care services. Ethical issues regarding informed consent, confidentiality/anonymity and management of information will be considered and attended to. Data will be collected through semi structured interviews and analysed in terms of Tesch eight steps. The Guba and Lincoln’s model will be employed for data verification (Lincoln and Guba in Schurink, Fouché and de Vos 2011:419-421). / Social Work / M.A. (Social Work)

Bakgrund: Varje år behöver 70 000–75 000 människor palliativ vård, varav de flesta har en cancersjukdom. Närstående har en viktig och central del i palliativ vård och kan påverka den drabbades mående innebär att lindra symtom och lidande där fokus inte ligger på att bota sjukdomen. Sjuksköterskan har en viktig roll att stötta och involvera närstående i kommunikationen.  Syfte: Syftet var att beskriva närståendes upplevelser av att vårda en anhörig med cancer i livets slutskede i hemmet.   Metod: Metoden som valdes var en litteraturöversikt. Tio vetenskapliga artiklar inkluderades i resultatet. Artiklarna analyserades enligt Fribergs metod. Resultatartiklarna hade kvalitativ design och hämtades från CINAHL Complete och MEDLINE.   Resultat: Litteraturöversikten presenterades i tre teman och fem underteman. Det första temat innefattar att bli en vårdare, med undertemat ansvar att ständigt vara på vakt. Det andra temat innefattar känslor av vårdandet, med underteman stress och tiden nära döden. Det sista temat innefattar behov av stöd, med underteman stöd från familj och vänner, stöd från hälso-sjukvården.   Slutsats: Resultatet visade att närstående kände ett ansvar av att vårda sin anhörig, detta ansvar medförde bland annat att tunga beslut låg i deras händer angående anhörigas autonomi. Ansvaret bidrog även med negativa effekter både psykiskt och fysiskt i form av utmattning. Förberedelser inför döden visade sig vara en viktig del för närståendes mentala hälsa samt att stöd från familj, vänner och vårdpersonal framkom som betydelsefullt. / Background: Every year, 70 000–75 000 people need palliative care, most of them have cancer. Relatives have an important and central part in palliative care and can affect the victim's mood. Palliative care involves relieving symptoms and suffering where the focus is not on curing the disease. The nurse has an important role to support and involve relatives in the communication. Autonomy is seen as a difficult ethical dilemma in palliative care as the sufferer may have difficulty being self-determined in the final stages of life.   Aim: The purpose was to describe relatives' experiences of caring for a relative with cancer in the final stages of life at home.  Method: The chosen method was a literature review linked to Friberg. Ten scientific articles were included in the results. The articles were analyzed according to Friberg's method. The result articles had a qualitative design and were taken from CINAHL Complete and MEDLINE.   Results: The literature review was presented in three themes and five sub-themes. The first theme includes becoming a caregiver, with the sub-theme responsibility to be constantly on guard. The second theme includes emotions of care, with the sub-theme of stress, the time close to death. The last theme includes need for support, with the sub-theme support from family and friends, support from health care.   Conclusion: The results showed that close relatives felt a responsibility to care for their relatives, this responsibility meant, among other things, that heavy decisions were in their hands regarding the relatives' autonomy. The responsibility also contributed with negative effects both mentally and physically in the form of exhaustion. Preparations for death proved to be an important part of the mental health of close relatives and that support from family, friends and care staff emerged as meaningful.