Motivations and Experiences of Older Adult Volunteers in a Telehealth Nursing Simulation Activity

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has posed challenges to safely engaging older adults in volunteer activities. This research explored a unique partnership between a Retired Senior and Volunteer Program (RSVP) and a school of nursing to administer a telehealth virtual simulation training for nurse practitioner students. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with nursing simulation coordinators and volunteers after the telehealth simulation exercise. The purpose of this research was to identify principles of successful virtual volunteer engagement for telehealth simulations. This initial pilot study encompassed debriefing interviews with volunteers (N = 3) and interviews with simulation coordinators (N = 2). Three major themes emerged within the response coding: 1) the benefits of virtual simulation volunteering, 2) technology as a facilitating factor and challenge, and 3) unique volunteer management considerations. Both volunteers and coordinators noted that volunteers derived positive emotional benefits and new insights from their participation. Coordinators discussed the “authenticity” factor that older adults brought to the simulation experience as a benefit to engaging older adult volunteers. Technology sub-themes included accessibility considerations, experience with the online format, and other logistical considerations in conducting telehealth simulation. Volunteer management sub-themes encompassed volunteer skills and motivations, the perceived successful aspects of training, and improvements for future simulations. Volunteers discussed an interest and connection to healthcare and education as a motivating factor for their participation in the telehealth simulation. This small scale pilot research will be expanded through future simulation activities to continue to identify principles of practice for engaging older adults in virtual volunteerism.

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Engaging Vital Older Adults in Intergenerational Service-Learning

Culturally Engaging Service-Learning With Diverse Communities - Advances in Educational Technologies and Instructional Design ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-2900-2.ch016 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 266-287

Author(s):

Reneé A. Zucchero

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Older Adults ◽

Service Learning ◽

Older Adult ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

The United States ◽

Life Review ◽

Future Research ◽

Negative Stereotypes ◽

Adult Volunteers

The population of older adults within the United States is growing rapidly, which calls for increased understanding of that population. However, ageism is pervasive and one of the most engrained forms of prejudice. Intergenerational service-learning may be one way to reduce negative stereotypes and ageism. The Co-Mentoring Project is an intergenerational service-learning project that matches undergraduate students and vital older adult volunteers. Students meet with their partners at least four times over the course of the semester to conduct a life review and gather information to begin the older adults' memoirs. This chapter provides a rationale for intergenerational service-learning and information about its theoretical underpinnings. The chapter also offers information about service-learning best practices, including structured reflection, and how the Project's methodology is consistent with them. The multi-modal assessment conducted for the Project and its outcomes are discussed. Finally, directions for future research are described.

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“It’s My Time”: Older Adults’ Experiences and Perceived Benefits of Participation in an Intergenerational Rock Band

Music Therapy Perspectives ◽

10.1093/mtp/miz021 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 38 (2) ◽

pp. 187-194

Author(s):

Natalie Wlodarczyk

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Older Adult ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Qualitative Content Analysis ◽

Perceived Benefits ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Rock Band ◽

Ability Levels ◽

Free Environment ◽

First Time

Abstract The purpose of this qualitative content analysis was to explore the experiences and perceived benefits for older adult members who participated in an intergenerational rock band (IGRB) pairing older adults with college students. Participants (n = 29) were first-time older adult IGRB members who completed semi-structured interviews over the course of 5 years. Interviews were completed within 1 week of the conclusion of the semester-long participation in the IGRB. Each interview was digitally recorded, manually transcribed, and analyzed using an iterative approach to thematic analysis. Experiences and perceived benefits associated with participation in the IGRB for these older adults were encompassed by four themes: Staying Active, Wanting to Try Something New, Feeling Connected, and Seeking Positive Experiences. Findings indicate that an IGRB is an innovative, collaborative, and inclusive intergenerational music-making experience that leaves a multifaceted and overall positive impact on its older adult members. Themes suggest that older adults with musical backgrounds may enjoy an experience like an IGRB because it brings a level of familiarity coupled with the opportunity to try something new and different from their previous experiences with music. A key contribution of this study is the importance of promoting a judgment-free environment for singing that is inclusive of all ability levels. Developing a better understanding of older adults’ motivations for participating in an IGRB may help us to plan future music experiences for older adults and broaden our reach to the older adult community.

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Older Adult Caregivers’ Experiences in an Online, Interactive Mindfulness Intervention

Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine ◽

10.1177/2515690x20960659 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 ◽

pp. 2515690X2096065

Author(s):

Janella Hudson ◽

Rachel Ungar ◽

Laurie Albright ◽

Rifky Tkatch ◽

James Schaeffer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Older Adult ◽

Stress Reduction ◽

Perceived Social Support ◽

Qualitative Content Analysis ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Mindfulness Intervention ◽

Adult Caregivers ◽

Older Adult Caregivers

Background. While today’s older adults experience longevity, they often manage several chronic conditions and increasingly serve as informal caregivers for aging parents, children with life-long disabilities, and spouses. Older adult caregivers managing personal chronic illness often experience significant psychosocial hardships. Objective. The primary purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of older adult caregivers in an online, interactive mindfulness intervention. Methods. Self-reported older caregivers who participated in an online-based mindfulness program (n = 20) were recruited for semi-structured interviews. Participants were asked to provide feedback about any previous experience with mindfulness and/or meditation, hopes or goals held prior to the start of the program, desired expectations, motivation for joining, impressions of sessions, most beneficial topics, potential application of content, and any perceived effects. Participants’ responses were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results. Five themes emerged from the analysis: Managing the Comprehensive Effects of Caregiving, Openness to Meditation and Mindfulness, Course Engagement and Incremental Growth, Building Rapport through Shared Experiences, and Ongoing Application and Opportunities for Refinement. Participants reported both short-term post-exercise benefits such as increased calm, relaxation, and stress relief, as well as long-term positive outcomes. Notably, participants found the program’s unique interactive feature to be particularly beneficial as a form of perceived social support. Conclusions. Caregivers for older adults may derive benefit and potentially experience reduced subjective caregiver burden as a result of participating in a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, particularly when the program is augmented with a self-compassion approach and perceived social support.

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The role of transportation in older adult social activity participation: a qualitative study in Mississauga, Ontario

10.32920/ryerson.14660799.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sonia Suet Yi Tam

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Land Use ◽

Older Adult ◽

Social Activity ◽

Health And Safety ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Suburban Communities ◽

Transportation Modes ◽

Travel Diaries ◽

Land Use Policies

The purpose of this research was to explore accessibility and how older adults in suburban communities are participating in social activities outside their home. Twenty older adults in Mississauga, Ontario took part in this study. A combination of activity-based travel diaries and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. Findings suggest that understandings of accessibility vary between users of different transportation modes. Further, travel time rather than distance travelled may be a more significant indicator of participation. Land use mix also attracts participation, while conditions that risk the health and safety of older adults are deterrents. This research contributes to the limited literature on older adult social participation as related to transportation. Results from this study highlight potential problems for older adult accessibility in a suburban context. Research may inform the development of accessibility interventions, municipal land use policies, and public transit strategies to build healthier, more inclusive age-friendly communities.

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Older adult recovery: “What are we working towards?”

Mental Health Review Journal ◽

10.1108/mhrj-09-2014-0033 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Samantha Rankin ◽

Stephanie Petty

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Clinical Practice ◽

Older Adult ◽

Later Life ◽

Mental Health Setting ◽

Personal Recovery ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Content Type ◽

Inpatient Mental Health

Purpose – The perspectives of frontline clinical staff working with individuals in later life within an inpatient mental health setting, of their role in recovery, have not yet been explored. The purpose of this paper is to understand what recovery means within an inpatient mental health setting for older adults. The authors address clear implications for clinical practice. Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 multidisciplinary participants across two specialist older adult recovery units at an independent hospital in the UK. Thematic analysis was applied to the transcripts. Findings – Three main themes were identified: participants identified their normative task as the promotion of “moving on” (clinical recovery) and their existential task as personal recovery. The context in which recovery happens was highlighted as the third theme. These represented competing workplace goals of clinical and personal recovery. This highlights the need to give permission to personal recovery as the process that enables mental health recovery in older adults. Originality/value – Staff working in a inpatient mental health service for older adults discussed the meaning of recovery and their role in enabling recovery. This has implications for sustainable clinical practice in this setting. Recovery-orientated practice in this setting is required but the detail is not yet understood.

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Barriers to Engage Low-Skilled Adults in Educational Opportunities: A Global Perspective

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.208 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 64-64

Author(s):

Abigail Helsinger ◽

Nytasia Hicks ◽

Meghan Young ◽

Oksana Dikhtyar ◽

Phyllis Cummins ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Older Adult ◽

Learning Opportunities ◽

Global Perspective ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Key Informants ◽

Program Costs

Abstract The demand for adult education and training (AET) opportunities is substantial as older adults are remaining in the labor force at older ages, and are facing substantial technological changes in the workplace. Strategies to engage middle-aged and older adult workers in AET often exclude low-skilled and sub-populations. The engagement of these sub-populations in AET is challenging as access, awareness, and program costs associated with AET opportunities often target highly skilled populations. The inequality in AET participation warrants specific programs and strategies to address challenges low-skilled adult workers face in pursuing AET. The purpose of this study is to identify AET opportunities for low-skilled middle-aged and older adults, as well as highlight major barriers to engage and retain these sub-population in AET. Data were collected from 36 key informants through semi-structured interviews and through document reviews. Key informants represented Australia, Canada, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, the U.K., and the U.S. Descriptive methods were used to identify barriers in recruiting and retaining low-skilled middle-aged and older adults. We particularly focused on the barriers related to cost, language, access, and awareness. Results highlighted opportunities tailored to support adult workers in the pursuit of adult learning opportunities both domestically and internationally. Barriers including learning histories, lack of long-term person-centered support, as well as the role of multiple forms of learning, such as formal and informal learning, were identified. Last, we provide recommendations for recruiting and retaining middle-aged and older adult workers in AET programs.

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The effectiveness of an educational project using older adult volunteers for training primary care nurse practitioners in geriatric assessment

Journal of Nursing Education and Practice ◽

10.5430/jnep.v10n3p51 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 51

Author(s):

Jennifer M. Hackel ◽

Teresa M. Eliot Roberts

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Primary Care ◽

Health Care ◽

Clinical Practice ◽

Older Adult ◽

Geriatric Assessment ◽

Primary Care Providers ◽

Care Nurse ◽

Primary Care Nurse ◽

Adult Volunteers

This article reports on the effectiveness of a pilot project, where older adult volunteers attending college campus programs were recruited to act as mock patients (MP) in a two-hour clinical simulation experience for primary care nurse practitioner (NP) students learning about geriatric assessment. Primary care providers, such as NPs, study variable content on geriatrics and see older adults in their primary care clinical practica yet report they desire more time in their training to practice geriatric assessment techniques, apply clinical practice recommendations, and discuss broader aspects of cases being managed by NPs within the interdisciplinary team. Utilization of live models acting as MPs with small groups of students acting as one provider is one way in which health care trainees can take more time to learn from each other as well as the models in the simulated clinical setting. The professor wrote a hypothetical case study based on clinical practice experience that either a male or female volunteer retiree could play as the MP. The case was a 75-year-old retiree with multiple other chronic conditions, on multiple medications, presenting with acute on chronic fatigue. Of the 48 students who participated, 47 returned surveys. Aggregate scores indicated an overall effectiveness of 88% across multiple aspects of geriatric primary care. Qualitative data indicated that the NP students would like more such cases in which they get more lead time with the case information to consider the myriad factors at play and have smaller groups of students per MP. The older adults who volunteered as MPs reported overwhelmingly that they found participating in the students’ education to be rewarding and a chance to offer input about improvement in the care of older adults in the current health system in our aging society. There was consistent feedback that the program should be continued and enhanced. The case content is offered in this article for use by other health care professionals who educate trainees in primary care.

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Exploring the Patient-Provider Relationship in Older Adult Pain Management

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.3386 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 945-946

Author(s):

Sophia Sheikh ◽

Natalie Spindle ◽

Jennifer Brailsford ◽

Jason Beneciuk ◽

Monika Patel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Pain Management ◽

Older Adult ◽

Pain Treatment ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Educational Interventions ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Patient Centered ◽

Study Objective ◽

Management Approaches

Abstract Successful health outcomes in older patients are linked to the quality of the patient-provider relationship. Our study objective was to further understand the role of this relationship specific to pain management through perspectives from older adults and healthcare providers. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with 9 older adults and 11 multidisciplinary healthcare providers. Transcripts were analyzed using a thematic analysis. Three main concepts emerged: (1) defining pain management goals — differences in providers and patients’ goals for pain and function, with sub-themes of realistic goal setting and a shift in pain treatment to minimize opioids as a first-line medication; (2) communication — perceived gap in providers communicating and coordinating across disciplines and with patients, with sub-themes of improving positive communication and inconsistent messaging among providers; and (3) therapeutic alliance — all parties feel that developing a relationship is built on consistent trust and open dialogue. Although providers and older adults often expressed similar perspectives, there were several areas of misalignment identified within each concept, representing areas of disconnect within the patient-provider pain management relationship. Our findings indicate providers could benefit from education on improving communication around realistic goals and patient-centered outcomes and incorporation of more holistic pain management approaches when working with older adult patients. Further study should focus on developing educational interventions to address the identified shortcomings.

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The role of transportation in older adult social activity participation: a qualitative study in Mississauga, Ontario

10.32920/ryerson.14660799 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sonia Suet Yi Tam

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Land Use ◽

Older Adult ◽

Social Activity ◽

Health And Safety ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Suburban Communities ◽

Transportation Modes ◽

Travel Diaries ◽

Land Use Policies

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A Small-Scale Qualitative Study of Early Comprehensive Patient Engagement in Acute Clinical Settings: Is It Feasible?

10.21203/rs.3.rs-78222/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Andrea Nedergaard Jensen ◽

Ove Andersen ◽

Hejdi Gamst-Jensen ◽

Maria Kristiansen

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Patient Engagement ◽

Participant Observation ◽

Patient Flow ◽

Time Constraints ◽

Small Scale ◽

User Engagement ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Care Needs

Abstract Background: Patient-centered care (PCC) based on systematic and comprehensive patient engagement is important for patient satisfaction. However, ensuring PCC is difficult in emergency departments (ED) characterized by a high patient flow and a substantial proportion of older adults with multimorbidity and complex care needs. This small-scale qualitative study aimed to identify potentials and barriers for providing early PCC for older adults in Danish EDs using a novel user-engagement conversation tool.Methods: Participant observation, focus group interviews and individual semi-structured interviews with ED nurses and geriatric nurses were conducted between September and December 2019 in an ED at a hospital in the Capital Region of Denmark. Thematic network analysis with a focus on potentials and barriers for patient engagement was conducted.Results: Two key subthemes related to potentials emerged: 1) a positive attitude towards patient engagement in the context of PCC, and; 2) perceived benefits of PCC overall and the engagement tool in particular. Additionally, two key subthemes related to barriers emerged: 1) time constraints and; 2) concerns related to the importance of cross-sectoral care coordination.Conclusion: This study contributes to mounting evidence in support of policies and practices that encourage PCC as a driver of unpacking patients’ needs and values leading to targeted follow-up care. However, barriers such as time constraints, and lack of cross-sectoral care collaboration should be acknowledged if the potentials of PCC is to be fulfilled in ED settings.

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