Evaluation of the Impact of a Volunteer Ombudsman Program: The Rhode Island Experience

Abstract

The research assessed the impact of a major innovation in the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program that occurred in Rhode Island in 1997-the introduction of a volunteer component in which community members were trained and certified as advocates for residents in long-term care. Based on reports to the state ombudsman office, the findings indicated that the placement of volunteer ombudsman was associated with the generation of more complaints and more serious complaints about the facilities in which they were placed, some of which could not be resolved despite the greater intensity of interventions applied in these cases. Dat derived from nursing home inspections revealed a negative and significant correlation between the length of time a volunteer had been at a facility and the number of deficiencies.

Effectiveness and sustainability of volunteering with older people living in care homes: A mixed methods systematic review

“…Details of individual studies are reported in Table 1. Fourteen quantitative or mixed methods studies evaluated the impact of volunteering (Baker et al., 2017; Caspar et al., 2019; Clarkson et al., 2007; Di Bona et al., 2019; Lee et al., 2007; Lokon et al., 2017; Low et al., 2015; McNair & Moore, 2010; Sauer et al., 2016; Seitz et al., 2016; Skropeta et al., 2014; van Zon et al., 2016; Westerhof et al., 2018; Xaverius & Mathews, 2004), and 22 reported questionnaire or qualitative data (Biggs & Knox, 2014; Bradley et al., 2000; Damianakis & Wagner, 2007; Filinson, 2003; Gundersen & Johannessen, 2018; Hill, 2016; Hunter et al., 2018; Jain et al., 2020; Kawamura et al., 2009; Keith, 2001; Keith & Schafer, 2002; Landau et al., 2013; Lokon et al., 2012; Ostwald et al., 2003; Persson, 2004; Santini et al., 2018; Schwalbach & Kiernan, 2002; Somers, 2018; Tanner & Brett, 2014; Tinker et al., 2017; Van der Ploeg et al., 2012, 2014). Overall the quality of studies is poor.…”

“…Nine papers discussed volunteer motivations for their involvement with care homes and care home residents (Damianakis & Wagner, 2007; Filinson, 2003; Gundersen & Johannessen, 2018; Keith, 2003; Lokon et al., 2012; Ostwald et al., 2003; Tanner & Brett, 2014; Tinker et al., 2017; Van der Ploeg et al., 2012). These included a desire to help others or “give something back” (Damianakis & Wagner, 2007; Gundersen & Johannessen, 2018; Keith, 2003; Ostwald et al., 2003; Tanner & Brett, 2014; Tinker et al., 2017; Van der Ploeg et al., 2012); providing the volunteer with a sense of purpose (Damianakis & Wagner, 2007; Filinson, 2003; Van der Ploeg et al., 2012); utilising personal and professional experiences (Damianakis & Wagner, 2007; Keith, 2003; Tanner & Brett, 2014; Van der Ploeg et al., 2012) and using volunteer opportunities to enhance career prospects (Lokon et al., 2012; Tanner & Brett, 2014; Tinker et al., 2017; Van der Ploeg et al., 2012).…”

“…It was recognised that day‐to‐day training and supervision of volunteers may be challenging for some care homes (Gundersen & Johannessen, 2018; Hill, 2016; Van der Ploeg et al., 2012, 2014). One option was to use volunteer co‐ordinators or volunteer agencies to oversee volunteer activities (Baker et al., 2017; Biggs & Knox, 2014; Filinson, 2003; Gundersen & Johannessen, 2018; Hill, 2016; Hunter et al., 2018; Landau et al., 2013; Ostwald et al., 2003; Tanner & Brett, 2014). Dementia training was provided for volunteers in seven studies (Baker et al., 2017; Di Bona et al., 2019; Lokon et al., 2017; Sauer et al., 2016; Seitz et al., 2016; van Zon et al., 2016; Xaverius & Mathews, 2004).…”

“…Nine papers discussed volunteer motivations for their involvement with care homes and care home residents (Damianakis & Wagner, 2007;Filinson, 2003;Gundersen & Johannessen, 2018;Keith, 2003;Lokon et al, 2012;Ostwald et al, 2003;Tanner & Brett, 2014;Tinker et al, 2017;Van der Ploeg et al, 2012). These included a desire to help others or "give something back" (Damianakis & Wagner, 2007;Gundersen & Johannessen, 2018;Keith, 2003; The number of volunteers in three studies was unclear (Kawamura et al, 2009;Sauer et al, 2016;Somers, 2018) and not reported in Keith (2005)…”

“…Training in activity Specific training to deliver the activity they were providing using classroom-based activities, role play and intervention manuals Baker et al (2017), Bradley et al (2000), Damianakis and Wagner (2007), Filinson (2003), Gundersen and Johannessen (2018), Hunter et al (2018), Lee et al (2007) Filinson (2003), Gundersen and Johannessen (2018), Hill (2016), Hunter et al (2018), Landau et al (2013), Ostwald et al (2003), Tanner and Brett (2014) Care home orientation Meeting care home staff Face-to-face introductions Filinson (2003), Hill (2016), Hunter et al (2018), Xaverius and Mathews (2004) Access to information about residents Information previsit or during visits Damianakis and Wagner (2007) Damianakis and Wagner (2007), Filinson (2003), Hunter et al (2018), Low et al (2015), Ostwald et al (2003), Tanner and Brett (2014) (Continues)…”