Understanding Volunteer Markets: The Case of Senior Volunteers

2014 ◽  
pp. 17-40
Keyword(s):  
Author(s):  
Carandang ◽  
Shibanuma ◽  
Kiriya ◽  
Vardeleon ◽  
Marges ◽  
...  

Senior volunteers represented a significant, mostly untapped lay resource of informal social care. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of the training program on improving senior volunteers’ competency toward peer counseling, and explored its impact on their well-being after three months of the program implementation. We conducted a pre- and post-intervention analysis among 60 senior volunteers aged 60–82 years. They participated in 40 h of training and performed weekly peer counseling home visits for three months. We evaluated the program using survey questionnaires, trainer observation and debriefing, and focus group discussions. After the training, peer counselors showed a significant improvement (p < 0.001) in knowledge (17.1 versus 22.3) and skills (17.0 versus 17.9). All of them met the minimum required passing level of 70% for the knowledge test, and their overall performance was satisfactory as rated by two independent trainers. After three months, peer counselors showed a significant improvement (p < 0.001) in their subjective well-being (d = 0.69) and depressive symptoms (d = −0.67). Filipino senior volunteers could be trained to serve as peer counselors in their communities. This program improved their competency and well-being. Future research is warranted to determine whether the provision of counseling by them will affect the health outcomes of the target population.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-158
Author(s):  
Angela M. Yoder ◽  
Danessa Carter ◽  
Breanna Yantis ◽  
Amy Allison ◽  
Alyssa Swan

2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-19
Author(s):  
Andrew Sims ◽  
Ruth Sims

The Board of International Affairs of the Royal College of Psychiatrists initiated the Senior Volunteers Programme in 2004 following discussion at the Board and planning in a subgroup over the preceding year. The aim was to match requests from other countries for specific psychiatric teaching with the services of senior psychiatrists in Britain. The College has acted as intermediary, inviting requests from countries, Members and Fellows overseas, and setting up a database of psychiatrists offering a range of skills. The concept is simple but all the skill and hard work lies in the detail!


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S680-S681
Author(s):  
Tomoki Tanaka ◽  
Kyo Takahashi ◽  
Masahiro Akishita ◽  
Katsuya Iijima

Abstract Aim: For achieving healthy aging for all, multi-faceted frailty is serious problem in super-aged society such as Japan. We developed community-based frailty check-up program performed by trained senior volunteers. In this study, we aimed to validate the ability of the results of check-up to predict needing long-term support or care insurance or death in community-dwelling older population. Methods: A total of 1,536 older adults (mean age, 73.0±6.1 years; 74% women; non-eligible for long-term support or care) participated in the check-ups held from April, 2015 to March, 2018 in Kashiwa City, Japan. At check-ups cite, 21 items including nutrition, oral and physical functions, and social conditions were assessed; Outcome was needing long-term support or care insurance, or death from the day of check-ups until October, 2018. Results: During follow-up {median 678 days (inter-quartile range, 199-1263)}, 116 (7.6%) were newly needing for long-term support (n=50) or care (n=49), or death (n=18). The number of positive responses among 21 items was associated with decreased risks of outcome {age-sex adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval), 0.87 (0.81-0.92)}. Compared those with &gt; 18 positive responses (third tertile), individuals with &lt; 14 positive responses (first tertile) were highly increased risks of outcome {age-sex adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval), 2.44 (1.22-4.49)}. Conclusions: Community-based frailty check-ups program could predict the needing long-term support or care insurance or death in community-dwelling older population. The appropriate intervention for individuals with bad results of the check-up might contribute to serving as early prevention of multi-faceted frailty.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S664-S665
Author(s):  
Anne D Katz ◽  
Judy Axonovitz

Abstract Healthcare is in need of a workforce with the knowledge and skills to meet the needs of our aging population. Seniors face social, mental, and physical issues as they move into the later stages of life. The Student Senior Partnership Program (SSPP) connects teams of students with healthy senior volunteers in the community. Through this partnership, students learn the strategies seniors implement to stay engaged and maintain their activities of daily living to combat decline and frailty. The SSPP focuses on increasing student’s capability to assess older adults, and learn from their senior within an interprofessional team. Faculty provided training to the senior volunteers so they were prepared to function in a role as “teachers” to students from six professional disciplines (Medicine, Social Work, OT, PT, Dentistry, Pharmacy) through meaningful dialogue focused on physical well-being, relationships with family, friends, community, memory and cognition . Evaluation was performed using the Geriatrics Attitudes Scale (GAS). The pre and post survey (n=72) measured the reported capability to assess older adults and evaluate their attitudes toward the elderly. There were statistically significant improvements in six of nine assessment topics. The largest improvements were in the capability to assess resource gaps (mean=2.79 to 3.44 on a 5-point scale, p&lt;0.001), mental status (3.03 to 3.57, p&lt;0.001) and fall risk (2.99 to 3.50, p&lt;0.001). Attitudes toward the elderly were measured using the Geriatrics Attitudes Scale (GAS). Overall, students improved during the program (mean=3.88 to 4.05 on a 5-point Likert scale, p&lt;0.001).


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