Over three quarters of employees would rather go to work than take a dream holiday if they knew they only had 13 days to live, according to new research from TimeBank, the national volunteering charity and Help the Hospices, the national charity for the hospice movement.
The research was conducted to support the launch of a new joint-campaign called ë13 Daysí (the average length of time a person spends in an adult hospice), with both charities urging people to make a difference by giving time in a hospice. 13 Days provides the opportunity to add life to days even if days cannot be added to someoneís life. The experiences of current volunteers also highlight the part that hospice volunteering can play in career development.
TimeBank asked 1500 people,
What would you do if you only had thirteen days to live?
What would you stop worrying about if you only had thirteen days to live?
Of those surveyed, less than a quarter (24 per cent) said they would quit work if they only had thirteen days to live, despite over half (51 per cent) saying that they would stop worrying about work. These findings come after another survey recently revealed that 82 per cent had feigned a cough or cold so that they could skip work.
Those aged between 25 and 34 are most likely to quit work (34 per cent), but also the age group who would have less concerns about money and work (65%) in their final days.
Spending time with your family topped the poll (75 per cent), but surprisingly those aged over 65 would rather travel (67 per cent) than spend their remaining days with their family (44 per cent).
Other findings included,
Women would prefer to swim with dolphins (14 per cent) than bury the hatchet with an old foe (10 per cent)
A third of people (34 per cent) would rather make a difference at the end of their life then indulge in a sex, drugs and rock ëní roll lifestyle (13 per cent)
Men are twice as likely to indulge in a hedonistic lifestyle than women
Help the Hospices supports over 200 local adult and childrenís hospices in their vital work on the front line of caring for people at the end of life. Hospices arenít simply buildings but places where volunteers work alongside professional staff in aiming to meet the needs ñ physical, emotional, social and spiritual ñ of people facing terminal illness. Volunteers also support staff in providing hospice home-care services.
Katie Wood is a legal secretary and decided to start volunteering as she wanted a change of career and to get some experience of working with people, and of caring. She chose to volunteer at Wheatfieldís as her Grandma died at the hospice 10 yrs ago, and it appealed as she has a personal connection to the place.
ìI work on the wards helping the nurses and the kitchen staff, giving out meals and chatting to patients. I volunteer for 2 or 3 hours every Monday evening and find it easy to fit in with my lifestyle, as the staff are so supportive. I am currently thinking about becoming an occupational therapist and believe my volunteering will really help me to achieve this.î
Every year UK hospices care for approximately 200,000 people, but this care also extends to and affects their relatives, colleagues, and friends. This means that without the time and dedication of volunteers such as Amieth, the hospice movement would not be able to function.
ìVolunteers are at the heart of the hospice movement. The selfless efforts of hospice volunteers in the UK ensure that hospices can continue to provide care and support for patients and their families, friends, and colleagues. Every potential volunteer has something to offer, and each volunteer can make a huge and positive difference.î
Christine Shaw, Acting Chief Executive, Help the Hospices
To volunteer for the 13 Days campaign, or to grow your own virtual sunflower (the symbol of the hospice movement) in thirteen days, please visit www.timebank.org.uk/13days or call 0845 601 4008.
76% of employees would still go to work despite having just 13 Days to live
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