Trabalho voluntário: uma alternativa para a promoção da saúde de idosos

Abstract

This article is a thematic reflection. It aims at presenting volunteer work as an alternative for promoting health for elders in Brazil. Having as a starting point the definition of volunteer work, this study contextualizes this type of activity in Brazilian society, explaining it also as an instrument that makes possible for people to experience an active and healthy aging process. The text presents international studies with elders who volunteer and, as a result, have found a relationship between volunteering and satisfaction with their lives and have had less symptoms of depression and a more positive evaluation of life when compared to elderly who do not volunteer. The conclusion emphasizes the importance for health professionals to stimulate and facilitate the access of elders to volunteer work, considering this posture a creative and innovative challenge for the promotion of health for the elderly.

O senso de auto-eficácia na manutenção de comportamentos promotores de saúde de idosos

“…In order to achieve the expectation of living better, these older adults also perform other activities, as E67 (woman, 81 years old) states The volunteer work allows her to feel socially active and useful, factors that promote health and life quality (14) . Besides, she faces stressful life events (11) making promises, because she believes she is capable of honoring promises.…”

Associations between self-perceived quality of life and socio-demographic, psychosocial, and health variables in a group of elderly

“…As indicated by other authors 36,37 , volunteer work can be associated with the Theory of Activity, contributing to improved quality of life in the elderly by performing different actions in social involvement and maintenance of autonomy and allowing them to preserve feelings of being active and useful. Volunteer work by the elderly is generally related to charitable activities 39,40 , also suggesting an association between altruism and quality of life. Leisure-time activities and community groups may also be associated with volunteer work, thus contributing to health promotion and quality of life, allowing elders to feel healthier and happier 41 .…”

Potential for Intensive Volunteering to Promote the Health of Older Adults in Fair Health

“…Civic engagement should not be imposed on all older adults given that some older adults are content not to do generative activities in later life. 9 We instead propose increased access to volunteer programs for older adults who might not have good or excellent health given that health disparities are likely to continue or worsen unless new public health interventions specifically target individuals at highest risk. 54 Meaningful, health behavior-enhancing roles for older adults may offer a valued biopsychosocial approach to successful aging 55 in America.…”

“…7,8 Volunteering has been promoted as a favored option for active aging by the United Nations, World Health Organization, and a number of international studies. [9][10][11] Work 12 and volunteering 13 have been assumed to be options only for older adults in excellent or very good health. Volunteer cohorts tend to be healthier than their peers, 14,15 while older adults who are ill or disabled are thought to have a variety of barriers to being able to volunteer, including decreased endurance and mobility, limiting medical symptoms and transportation challenges, 16,17 as well as potentially unacceptably high levels of vulnerability to environmental challenges.…”