The experiences and needs of older people receiving volunteer services in Chinese elderly care institutions: A qualitative study

doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3803303/v1

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Research Article

The experiences and needs of older people receiving volunteer services in Chinese elderly care institutions: A qualitative study

https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3803303/v1

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published 29 Apr, 2024

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Background

Elderly people living in elderly institutions are eager to get volunteer help, but their satisfaction with volunteer services is not high. To better carry out volunteer services and improve the effectiveness of services, it is necessary to have a deep understanding of the real experience and needs of older people for volunteer services.

Methods

The purposive sampling method was used to select 14 older people from two elderly care institutions in Hangzhou and conduct semi-structured interviews. Collaizzi's seven-step method was used to analyze the data.

Results

Older people in nursing institutions have both positive and negative experiences in the process of accepting volunteer services; positive experiences include feeling the warmth of society and contributing to a better life, while negative experiences include the formalization of the service process, the lack of regularity in the frequency of services, and the mismatch between service supply and demand. The demand for volunteer services mainly focuses on emotional comfort, cultural entertainment, and knowledge learning.

Conclusion

Older people in elderly care institutions have varied volunteering experiences, and their volunteer demand is diversified. Volunteer service needs of older people should be accurately assessed, and volunteer service activities should be targeted.

elderly care facilities

volunteering

experience

needs

qualitative research

China's aging population is increasing due to long-term population policies and improvements in medical and healthcare. According to the seventh population census by the National Bureau of Statistics, the number of people over 60 in China has reached 260 million [1]. The aging population is growing at a fast pace and large magnitude, and this problem of balanced population development will become the central pressure faced by China in the long term. China is currently facing the dilemma of "getting old before getting rich," the aggravation of population aging has brought significant challenges and burdens to the state and society [2]. China's current pension security system still needs to be perfect, and therefore, the state and society need to make significant efforts to cope with this challenging situation [3].

There are three main modes of old-age care in China: family old-age care, community old-age care, and institutional old-age care. Family old-age care is the most traditional way of caring for older people in China. However, due to changes in demographics and the trend toward smaller families, the burden of caring for elderly family members has increased. It has become difficult for children to care for many older adults simultaneously [4]. As a result, family-oriented old-age care can no longer meet the needs of older people in China. China's community-based old-age care is still in the exploratory stage. The slow construction of communities and insufficient improvement hinders the development of community-based elderly care. It cannot effectively cope with the pressure of the aging population, and the various public facilities still need to be better to provide older people with detailed care services [5]. In this context, institutionalized elderly care has become increasingly popular. It refers to the elderly choosing to live in senior citizen apartments, senior citizen welfare homes, nursing homes, and other social services for older people to spend their later lives. These institutions have gradually become more advantageous than family-oriented care due to the challenges of caring for multiple elderly family members [6].

Due to various challenges such as late start, low quality, lack of skilled professionals, and other factors, elderly care institutions in China are still a long way from meeting the comprehensive needs of older people in terms of health management, professional nursing, rehabilitation, cultural recreation, psychological counseling, social communication, and other services [7]. Therefore, to address the problem of an aging society in China and ensure that older people enjoy a high quality of life when choosing nursing institutions, it is necessary to improve the management and service levels of existing nursing institutions while also leveraging social forces such as volunteer teams to improve nursing services. This will positively impact improving the overall service level of elderly institutions and resolving the increasingly tense social problems older people face [8].

Volunteer elderly care services are an essential form of long-term care that plays a vital role in supplementing government resources and meeting the needs of older people. This service involves volunteers who provide services to older people without compensation [9]. Research has shown that volunteer elderly care services can provide physical and emotional support to older people, satisfying their needs in various aspects [10].

China's current volunteer service has significantly developed in elderly care institutions. However, some problems arise from the volunteer service. For instance, specific volunteer organizations in elderly care institutions provide volunteer services that have certain functional deficiencies and efficiency dilemmas [11]. These problems hurt the volunteer service and the proper operation of the institutions. They reflect a certain level of failure in the voluntary program. [12].

Understanding the experience and needs of older people who receive volunteer services in nursing institutions is crucial for efficiently developing such services. However, no research is available on the occasion of older people receiving volunteer services in nursing institutions. To address this gap, a study was conducted by interviewing elderly individuals who have received volunteer services at two nursing institutions in Hangzhou. The study aimed to better understand the real needs and experiences of older people and to provide guidance for promoting the efficient development of volunteer services and constructing a volunteer service system applicable to older people in nursing institutions.

Design

This study utilized a qualitative descriptive approach to examine the experiences and expectations of older adults in nursing facilities when receiving volunteer services. The goal was to develop better volunteer programs in nursing facilities. To ensure accuracy and transparency, the authors followed the Consolidated Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines when reporting their findings [13].

Participants

During June-August 2023, a purposive sampling method was used to conduct qualitative interviews with older adults residing in two nursing care institutions in Hangzhou. The inclusion criteria for the interview subjects were as follows: (1) they had to have resided in the nursing care institutions for more than a year; (2) they had to have received volunteer services; (3) they had to be conscious and able to express themselves effectively; and (4) they had to have given informed consent and voluntarily agreed to participate in the study. The number of people participating in the study was decided based on information saturation. This means the interviews were conducted until no new topics emerged and responses were repeated. The data from the twelfth interview indicated that saturation had been reached, confirmed by the other two interviews. This research principle was based on previous qualitative research studies [14]. All the older adults who participated in the study agreed to the interview process, and there were no dropouts during the study period. ,14 older adults were included in this study, coded as N1-N14. Detailed information can be found in Table 1.

Table 1

General information of the interviewees (N = 14)
Number	Gender	Age (years)	Educational level	Occupation	Marital status	Length of residence (years)
N1	Female	78	Junior high school	Accountant	Widowed	6
N2	Female	81	Secondary school	doctor	Married	3
N3	Female	80	Junior high school	worker	Married	2
N4	Female	75	Junior high school	teacher	Married	1
N5	Female	90	College	teacher	Widowed	3
N6	Male	83	College	teacher	Widowed	2
N7	Male	79	Junior high school	worker	Married	4
N8	Female	75	Junior high school	teacher	Married	3
N9	Male	77	Junior high school	worker	Widowed	5
N10	Female	88	Secondary school	veteran	Widowed	3
N11	Male	76	College	engineer	Married	2
N12	Male	89	University	cadre	Widowed	2.5
N13	Male	83	Junior high school	worker	Widowed	4
N14	Female	81	Junior high school	worker	Widowed	2

Interview outline

We developed an interview outline after thoroughly reviewing the literature sources and consulting with the research group [15, 16]. We selected two older individuals living in nursing care institutions to conduct pre-interviews. We adjusted the interview outline based on the feedback we received from the pre-interviews.

The interview will cover the following topics: 1. Please describe the volunteer services you have received in detail. How do you feel about receiving these services?

2. Are you satisfied with the volunteer service you have received? What aspects of the service make you satisfied?

3. What are your dissatisfactions with the volunteer service? Why do you feel that way?

4. What are your expectations and needs for the volunteer service's content, form, and volunteers?

5. Is there anything else you would like to add to the discussion?

Data collection

A semi-structured interview method was utilized to gather data for this study. The researcher, a master's degree nursing student, has been trained in qualitative research methods and has mastered the semi-structured interview techniques required to conduct interviews independently. Additionally, the researcher has participated in numerous volunteer activities in nursing organizations, establishing a trustworthy relationship with the interviewees. Before conducting the interviews, the researcher explained the study's purpose and methodology to the interviewees and, after receiving their consent, scheduled an appointment in advance. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with the respondents in a quiet, private, comfortable conference room. During the interview, the researcher recorded the entire process with the respondent's consent without interrupting the respondent unnecessarily. The researcher confirmed the key concerns and the content that the respondent could not express clearly by repeating, asking follow-up questions, and asking rhetorical questions. The researcher also promptly recorded the respondent's non-verbal information, such as movements, expressions, and tone of voice. Each interview lasted 30–45 minutes, and after conducting 14 interviews, no new information was obtained, indicating data saturation and ending the interview process. At the end of the interview, each interviewee was given a small token of appreciation.

Data analysis

The audio recordings of the interviews were transcribed into text within 24 hours of completion. Nonverbal information was noted in the transcript at the relevant places. The transcribed information was then entered into the NVIVO 11.0 software (QST International, Cambridge, MA, USA) for data extraction, coding, and integration. Two researchers independently analyzed and coded the data, and the results were compared to identify common themes. Any discrepancies were resolved after discussion by the research team to ensure that the data was complete and the analysis was accurate. Colaizzi's seven-step analysis method was used to refine the themes from the interviews, which involved the following steps [17]: (1) Carefully read all the transcriptions of the interviews. (2) Analyze the significant statements made by the interviewees. (3) Code the recurring and meaningful ideas discussed in the interviews. (4) Gather the coded ideas and form the theme clusters. (5) Define and describe the themes from the coded ideas. (6) Identify similar ideas and sublimate the theme concepts. (7) Return the results to the interviewees for verification, revise, and add the results based on the feedback from the interviewees.

Data analysis summarized Three main themes: Positive experiences、Negative experiences, and Demand for volunteerism.

Theme 1: Positive experience

Helping to solve practical problems in life

Several interviewees mentioned that older adults often feel disconnected from society due to the rapid development of technology, which creates difficulties for them in their everyday lives. For instance, they may need help shopping online or using a computer. However, volunteer services have been helping them overcome these challenges and lead better lives. N1: “The volunteers gradually taught me how to do things independently, such as shopping online, which made my life much easier and reduced my reliance on the caregiver." N11: "When volunteers come to teach me about computers, I ask them about things I don't understand, and the teacher explains them to me at once. My life has become much more fulfilling since I learned how to use the computer." N12: "I am keenly interested in Chinese medical and healthcare practices. Whenever I come across students from the Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, I ask them about the function of acupuncture points. They guide me on how to press these points to activate them. As a result, I have started doing simple acupressure on myself every day, which has helped me strengthen my body."

Feeling cared for by the community

Older people in nursing institutions are prone to loneliness due to their isolation from the outside world, and volunteers provide voluntary services to add fun to the lives of older people and make them feel cared for by society. N10: "I was thrilled when I participated in the voluntary services and felt that there was a collective life again. It's pleasing to feel that someone cares about us and that life is enriched." N12: "I enjoy talking to the volunteers because we are all elderly. We appreciate the opportunity to interact with younger people and embrace the new ideas you bring. It also brings us happiness to know that society still values the elderly, and we are grateful for the time you take to come and stay with us." N2: "We are all elderly individuals here, as it appears. Whenever we see young people, we feel delighted that there are volunteers who perform for us. We experience the youth's energy, making us feel less lonely. Seeing these young people changes our mood and brings us joy." N8: "We often have volunteers serving in our nursing home. People still care about our elderly. Now, the country and society care about us. I am thrilled."

Theme 2: Negative experience

Formalization of the volunteering process

Several interviewees have expressed that the volunteer services they receive are similar in content and formalistic, and the experience is relatively poor. N7: "They come as if they are talking about social practice or the requirements of the unit, and they have to complete this work. Some go through a process, so I do not want to participate in this activity." N13: "Many volunteers come over and just perform a show and then take pictures and leave; the service time is very short, and they don't understand our real needs; it's just like completing a task." N5: "Several volunteers are perfunctory in their approach, as they tend to arrive and depart hastily, perhaps merely to make a superficial appearance."

Lack of regularity in the frequency of volunteering

Most older individuals are dissatisfied with the infrequency and lack of organization of volunteer services. N12: "It is beneficial for volunteers to come and serve, but most of the time, they come temporarily and don't come routinely. Recently, a school teacher came to teach the elderly how to sing, but unfortunately, they had to leave due to other commitments and haven't been able to come back again." N5: “Volunteers can't come regularly, they come once in a while, or they don't come regularly; they don't have a plan.’’N4: “Volunteers come irregularly and without an organized plan. Few activities are available, and the attendees vary.” N7: "Occasionally, they visit the nursing home; however, some requests may go unfulfilled, so there is no desire to bother them."

Volunteer content needs to match the needs of older people.

Some elderly individuals found the volunteering service irrelevant to their actual needs, making it challenging for them to benefit from it. N10: "Some volunteers come just to dance and sing, and it feels noisy, and I don't want to participate; I just want the volunteers to chat with me in peace." N4: "The last time, a few volunteers approached me and asked if I needed any help with cleaning. However, I declined their offer as the nursing home caregivers already clean the facility daily, and the volunteers can't solve the specific things I require assistance with." N14: "My legs and feet are not very mobile, which makes it difficult for me to join the activities that volunteers organize downstairs. I am looking for activities I can participate in while staying in my room, such as playing games or handicrafts."

Theme 3: Demand for volunteerism among older persons in nursing homes

Need for emotional comfort

Elderly care facilities typically have a semi-closed management system. However, elderly residents often seek opportunities to connect with the outside world to gain more social information and engage in interpersonal communication. To help achieve this, volunteers frequently visit these facilities and accompany the elderly residents, which can effectively reduce their feelings of loneliness and other negative emotions. N1: "I hope that someone will accompany us to chat; many people in the nursing home have a psychological barrier, especially after the Novel coronavirus epidemic; the nursing home closed management, do not let the elderly go out, family members are not allowed to come in to visit, so many elderly people have no way to contact the outside world, they will have bad emotions, they need psychological counseling, and they need someone to come to chat with them and relieve them of their feelings of loneliness." N10: "It's best to have volunteers come over to serve, to come and chat with me to check on me, and to walk downstairs with me." N12: "I hope the volunteers will chat with us, tell us about what's happening outside, and tell us some new things." N2: "I believe that what the elderly people here require the most is to experience joy and happiness. As older individuals, we are delighted to see young people around us, as it helps alleviate our loneliness. Being alone in the cold and quiet can be a challenging experience."

Cultural and recreational needs

Some elderly individuals hope volunteers can engage them in cultural and recreational activities to add excitement to their lives, utilize their free time, and enhance their overall well-being. N14: "When volunteers teach the elderly to dance, sing, and perform opera, it fosters a sense of community and makes time fly by." N2: "It is common for volunteers to visit our nursing home and put on cultural performances. We love it when young performers sing old classic songs or perform Peking Opera, which are very popular." N4: "After the outbreak of the Xin Guan epidemic, volunteers were no longer allowed to return to the nursing home. As a result, no volunteers were available to teach the residents how to dance. Older people dance independently, without guidance, and their dance posture is not standardized. It would be beneficial if professional teachers could teach them how to dance properly." N6: "I enjoy writing, especially Chinese calligraphy, which many people practice together. However, I haven't participated in any calligraphy sessions because I'm not skilled enough. I would appreciate it if someone could volunteer to teach me how to write beautifully. I'm eager to learn and follow any willing volunteer who can help me master this art." N9: "We would love to learn Taijiquan as it can strengthen our bodies, and the gentle movements make it a suitable sport for the elderly. However, we do not have a teacher to guide us, and our postures may not be standard. It would be great if a teacher could come and teach us."

Knowledge learning needs

In today's world, knowledge is advancing rapidly, and keeping up with the latest developments has become essential to our spiritual needs. Many older adults are interested in improving their capacity to learn new things, whether learning how to use smartphones, understanding healthcare, familiarizing themselves with laws and regulations, or acquiring other knowledge. N1: "Buying things online has become very convenient, but I don't know how to do it myself and would like someone to teach me." N2: "My daughter purchased an expensive Apple cell phone for me, but I am unfamiliar with how to use it. The caregivers who assist me with cleaning do not have the time to teach me. It would be great if someone could provide me with systematic instruction on how to use the phone." N8: "I don't know how to use my cell phone well. There are many functions that I don't understand, and I would benefit from having a teacher to guide me. It would be great if volunteers could teach us step-by-step, just like elementary school students." A few participants have expressed their requirements for medical and health-related information and guidance. N9: "Volunteers could come and talk about the medical knowledge and how to previsualize dementia." N13: "I have high blood pressure and cholesterol. I need advice on what to eat and avoid." N12: "Volunteers can help us learn how to write a will effectively while ensuring it complies with national policies and regulations. Writing a legally recognized will prevent unnecessary trouble and conflicts in the future."

The Current Situation of Volunteering Experiences of Older Adults in Nursing Institutions

Analysis of positive experiences

The study's findings indicate that individuals residing in nursing facilities who are of advanced age have mixed experience when it comes to receiving volunteer services. Most respondents conveyed the warmth and care emanating from the volunteers and the society towards the elderly. Furthermore, they shared that volunteering offered them a means to engage in activities actively, create connections with fellow elderly individuals, and foster mutual support and camaraderie. This social participation has the potential to enhance the mental well-being of older adults, thereby decreasing feelings of loneliness and depression. [18]. Volunteering activities, such as smartphone training, can help older people acquire the necessary brilliant skills and adapt better to modern technology and life. Competent skills are crucial for older people, particularly in today's fast-developing technological society, where electronic devices such as smartphones are becoming increasingly popular. However, many older people need more skills to operate these devices and thus cannot fully utilize them. Through training, older adults can learn how to use smartphones, including sending text messages, browsing the web, using social media, downloading applications, and more. Learning these skills not only improves the quality of life of older adults but also helps them stay connected with family and friends, thereby reducing loneliness.

Improved brilliant skills can assist elderly individuals in accessing and utilizing health information, including online medical advice and health apps. This information can aid in managing their health status, preventing and managing chronic illnesses, and ultimately improving their quality of life. Volunteering is crucial in elderly care organizations. It provides numerous benefits to older adults, including enhancing their mental health and quality of life and receiving the necessary support and care by participating in volunteer activities. [19].

Analysis of negative experiences

During the interviews, some older individuals shared negative experiences regarding the content, form, and frequency of volunteer services. They pointed out that volunteer services often needed to understand their actual needs in advance, focusing too much on material assistance and neglecting their psychological and intellectual needs. Additionally, the service process is often too process-oriented and formalized, with less interaction with older people, resulting in volunteer services failing to meet their expectations.

Research suggests that negative experiences of receiving volunteer services may impact older people's willingness to seek help and the effectiveness of volunteer services. Therefore, when providing volunteer services to older people, it is essential to take the initiative to understand their experiences and continuously optimize the volunteer program. This approach is crucial to improving the quality of volunteer services. [20].

The current situation is the demand for volunteer services by older people.

The study results show that elderly care institutions can provide comprehensive life care services to older people, meaning they do not require many voluntary services for life care. However, this does not imply that older people's needs are met. Their need for emotional support, cultural recreation, and knowledge-seeking and learning is highly concentrated.

When elderly individuals leave their familiar family environment to move into care institutions, they may experience feelings of loneliness and boredom due to the lack of regular interaction with their children, family members, and friends. This sense of isolation can harm their mental health, and they may seek more opportunities to communicate and interact with younger individuals to gain emotional comfort [21].

As people age, cultural entertainment and knowledge learning become essential for spiritual growth. After their basic living needs are taken care of, older people desire more fulfilling recreational activities, such as calligraphy, painting, and singing. These activities enrich the spiritual life of older people and benefit their physical and mental health. [22].

In today's rapidly developing society, the widespread use of smartphones and the popularity of online shopping have led to a digital divide among older people. This phenomenon has, to some extent, hindered their social participation and increased their sense of isolation. Consequently, there is a growing demand for volunteer services that assist with smartphone use and can help them enjoy a convenient and fulfilling digital life.

The demand for volunteering services for older people has changed over time. While they still require help with their daily living, they also need emotional support, cultural engagement, and opportunities to learn new things. We should focus on meeting these needs to ensure our volunteer services are beneficial. By doing so, we can help older people live fulfilling, healthy, and happy lives in their later years [23].

Suggestions and Strategies for Optimizing Volunteerism

Accurately Assessing Older Adults' Volunteer Service Needs

The study results reveal that some older people have negative experiences with volunteer services that fail to meet their actual needs, leading to unsatisfactory service outcomes. This highlights the need to accurately identify the real service experiences and needs of older people to improve the quality and effectiveness of volunteer services.

To achieve our goal, we need to take a series of steps. Firstly, we must create appropriate tools for evaluating the needs of older people for volunteering services. We should also clarify the assessment methods and strategies for assessing these needs. Before launching volunteer services, relevant organizations and volunteers must understand older people's service experience and needs through qualitative and quantitative assessment methods [24].

To improve the quality and effectiveness of volunteer services for older people, we can utilize big data technology to carry out precise reforms. This involves building a unified information platform for volunteer services that enables a quick match between the needs of older people and the specialties of volunteers through the co-construction, sharing, and everyday use of resource information [25]. By doing so, we can provide multi-level, multi-category, and personalized volunteer services that cater to the actual needs of older people, thus achieving the purpose of "precise service."

In conclusion, we must prioritize the real needs of older people and provide them with more personalized and intimate volunteer services by continuously improving the assessment tools and information platforms with the orientation of precise services. The use of big data technology will play a key role in helping us realize the goal of efficient and accurate services.

Improving the quality management system of volunteer services

Volunteering quality refers to the quality of services volunteers provide, as perceived by the direct recipients. Research has shown that low-quality volunteering services fail to achieve their intended goals. Moreover, negative experiences of receiving volunteer services may discourage older adults from seeking help in the future. The study highlights a significant gap between older adults' experience of volunteering quality and their expectations. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the management of volunteering quality to ensure that expectations are met.

To enhance the quality of volunteering, we need to implement measures. Firstly, we must optimize the recruitment and selection system for volunteers. This entails formulating recruitment plans and selection requirements that align with the volunteer service needs of older people. We aim to create a stable and committed volunteer team skilled in service knowledge and job skills and willing to participate in volunteer services for an extended period. [26].

To improve the level and quality of service, it is essential to provide regular and standardized training for volunteers. This training should include general and professional skills and post-training assessments to evaluate effectiveness. Both volunteer service organizations and elderly care institutions should be involved in the training process. Only volunteers who have completed the training and assessment should be allowed to engage in service activities. [27].

It is essential to improve the evaluation mechanism of volunteer service quality. This can be done by creating a scientific evaluation index system involving older people in evaluating their satisfaction with the volunteer service program and conducting a comprehensive analysis of the evaluation results. This analysis can help to optimize and improve the service program. Additionally, tracking and evaluating the effectiveness of optimization measures to continuously enhance service quality is crucial. [28].

Improving the quality of volunteer services is a comprehensive project that enhances various aspects, such as volunteer recruitment, training, and service quality evaluation. This systematic approach can help serve the elderly community better and improve their overall quality of life.

Strengths and limitations

The paper's strength lies in its focus on the experience of older people in nursing institutions when receiving volunteer services and their need for such services. This study's understanding of the real feelings and needs of older people is beneficial for various organizations in society to provide better services in a targeted manner. However, the study's limitation is that it mainly focuses on the more developed areas of Hangzhou, which affects the sample's representativeness and makes it challenging to reflect the general situation of older people in nursing homes. Additionally, the author's subjective viewpoints may affect the analysis of the material during the data analysis process. Finally, the sample size of this study is relatively small, and there may be individual differences in personality, physical condition, and economic situation, among others. Therefore, expanding the sample size and the region's scope to carry out more in-depth research is necessary.

This research explored the experiences and requirements of older people who receive volunteer services in Chinese care homes. The study categorized their experiences into two groups: positive and negative. The needs of older adults who receive volunteer services include emotional comfort, cultural entertainment, and knowledge learning. It is crucial to have a timely and comprehensive understanding of the experiences and needs of older adults to create a targeted volunteer service model, standardized management, and training of volunteers in senior care institutions.

Acknowledgments

We want to express our heartfelt appreciation to the 14 elderly individuals who participated in the interview and shared their experiences. We are also grateful to the administrators of Sunshine Home in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, for granting us access and allowing us to conduct the interviews at their facility. Their cooperation was invaluable in gaining insights into the needs of the elderly population.

Authors’ contributions

All the authors participated in the design of the paper. Lin Li and Junxian Wu were responsible for data collection, sorting, and analysis, and Lin Li wrote the paper. Qin Shen directed and revised the article and approved the final version for publication. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Funding

This study did not receive any form of financial support.

Data Availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study protocol was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (approval No. 20230814-2). Before the interviews, the participants were provided with information regarding the study's purpose and procedures, the voluntary nature of their participation, and the confidentiality of their data. The interview data was stored securely, and only the research team could access it. The Ethics Committee of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University approved this study.

Consent for publication

Not applicable

Competing interests

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare

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No competing interests reported.

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published 29 Apr, 2024

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The experiences and needs of older people receiving volunteer services in Chinese elderly care institutions: A qualitative study

Status:

Journal Publication

Version 1

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Introduction

Methods

Design

Participants

Interview outline

Data collection

Data analysis

Results

Theme 1: Positive experience

Helping to solve practical problems in life

Feeling cared for by the community

Theme 2: Negative experience

Formalization of the volunteering process

Lack of regularity in the frequency of volunteering

Theme 3: Demand for volunteerism among older persons in nursing homes

Need for emotional comfort

Cultural and recreational needs

Knowledge learning needs

Discussion

The Current Situation of Volunteering Experiences of Older Adults in Nursing Institutions

Analysis of positive experiences

Analysis of negative experiences

Suggestions and Strategies for Optimizing Volunteerism

Accurately Assessing Older Adults' Volunteer Service Needs

Improving the quality management system of volunteer services

Strengths and limitations

Conclusion

Declarations

References

Additional Declarations

Status:

Journal Publication

Version 1