臨終關懷志工生命經驗之探討

本研究旨在探討臨終關懷志工的生命經驗。研究參與者的生命經驗是怎麼影響她們踏上成為臨終關懷志工。成為臨終關懷志工的前夕，研究參與者做了那一些心靈上的準備，以便在面對臨終時可能會出現的挑戰。成為臨終關懷志工對自己有些什麼樣的改變及調適。本研究採用了質性研究的敘事研究法，通過深度訪談來蒐集資料，共訪談四位參與二至三年的臨終關懷志工。訪談後針對所得資料進行分析，主要研究結果發現如下：一、家庭不幸死亡事件的衝擊，影響志工們參與協助臨終關懷病人與家屬的意願。二、信仰與臨終關懷課程給予了志工們滋養，讓她們有能力去幫助他人，自助助人。三、志工也從知識上所學，加以調適自己的情操，讓自己學著面對及處理悲傷，活得更加身心健康。志工學著調整自己與他人的人際關係，接納與包容他人不合理的行為。對自我的覺察能力也相互提高，迎合更好的人際關係還有自我的關係。四、志工面對不同死亡生命經驗，演變成協助他人面對臨終，一路學著面對未來“死亡的恐懼”，瞭解“生”的意義。每一個死亡都是一個生命的學習，學會尊重生命，開展生命的智慧，正面積極面對生命的存有價值。見到死亡，如有負面情緒，就會尋求靈性導師講解，瞭解死亡含義與生命危機的意義，以便成熟自己的生命，正向的面對人生。研究者根據上述研究發現加以討論，並依據此結果對想參與臨終關懷服務的志工、專業助人者與未來的研究提出建議。與此重新對生命開始有了新的觀點，開始思索生命的意義。接著死亡中領悟生命的存在，再去關懷生命，珍惜生命，讓這生命帶出它存在的價值。在志願服務底下，不求回報，活出精彩。

關鍵字

臨終關懷；志工；生命經驗

並列摘要

This aim of this study is to explore the life experience of hospice volunteer. Through the life experiences of the study participants on how they have become hospice volunteers. Before becoming a hospice volunteer, what are of the preparation work they have work towards to equip with the knowledge and skills to face the challenges upon the dying patient and family members. As a hospice volunteer, what are the changes and adjustments have been made. This study used a qualitative study of narrative research method to collect data through in-depth interviews were conducted by four hospice volunteers who had 2-3 years of voluntary experience. The main findings of the study are as follow: 1) Unfortunate family deaths experience impact volunteers to join hospice to provide care and support for the needy patient and their family. 2) Volunteer’s faith and hospice program had equipped them with necessary skills and support, so that they have the ability to help others and help one-self. 3) From the knowledge they have learnt, volunteers are better cope with their own grief and live a better, healthy life. 4) Volunteers face pre-existence death events in their life stages, evolved to face death of helping others through volunteering hospice care. It is a way of learning to face "fear of death" and knowing "life" significance. Every death experience is learning to respect life, to carry out the wisdom of life, face positively of any life events that triggers. The above findings were discussed and suggestions for hospice volunteers, helping professionals and future research are provided based on the findings.