Why do older adult volunteers stop volunteering?

Tang, Fengyan; Morrow‐Howell, Nancy; Choi, Eunhee

doi:10.1017/s0144686x10000140

Cited by 75 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 31 publications

(37 reference statements)

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“…42 These strategies have been shown to be helpful for enhancing participation somewhat, but are minimally associated with sustained volunteer engagement. 43 Compensation was proposed to increase sustained engagement speci½cally of under represented groups, but researchers dis covered that all older adults-regardless of socioeconomic status-½nd the stipend important. This is for two reasons: 1) most elderly are on a ½xed income, and the small stipend covers out of pocket costs of volunteering; and 2) a stipend lends credibility to the program, since it demonstrates that organizers believe its impact is worth the ½nancial investment.…”

Section: Productivity and Engagement In An Agingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Productivity & Engagement in an Aging America: The Role of Volunteerism

Carr¹,

Fried

Rowe

2015

Daedalus

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Recent and expected future increases in life expectancy and the increasing proportion of our population that will be elderly has stimulated substantial research into the factors that promote well-being and health in late life. Early research on aging was concerned primarily with understanding the average or usual physiologic and psychological changes associated with aging, particularly in the context of inevitable loss and decline as part of senescence. The ½rst White House Conference on Aging in 1961, however, reoriented gerontological research to provide information that facilitates good societal and individual choices associated with positive aging outcomes.Abstract: Volunteering in late life is associated with health bene½ts such as reduced risk of hypertension, improved self-related health and well-being, delayed physical disability, enhanced cognition, and lower mortality. Although the mechanisms of these correlations are not clear, increases in physical activity, cognitive engagement, and social interactions likely play contributing roles. Volunteers are typically thought to represent a select group, often possessing higher levels of education and income, good health, and strong social networks. However, group evidence indicates that there are many members of groups of lower socioeconomic status (SES), including elderly adults, who serve their communities on a regular basis and in high-priority programs. We propose that the impact of volunteering in an aging population be recognized and invested into, and that effective programs harness social capital of older adults to address critical societal needs and also improve the well-being of older adults. While members of low-SES groups are less likely to volunteer, they exhibit disproportionately great bene½ts. The Experience Corps represents a model of an effective volunteerism program, in which elders work with young schoolchildren. Existing federal initiatives, in cluding the Foster Grandparent Program and Senior Companion Program-which target low-income elders-have had low participation with long waiting lists. Given the proven bene½ts and relatively low proportion of older persons who volunteer, enhancement of elder volunteerism presents a signi½cant opportunity for health promotion and deserves consideration as a national public health priority.

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Section: Productivity and Engagement In An Agingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Productivity & Engagement in an Aging America: The Role of Volunteerism

Carr¹,

Fried

Rowe

2015

Daedalus

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“…In addition, Morrow-Howell et al (2009) indicate that stipends are associated with benefits to volunteers, their families, and their communities. Tang et al (2010b) note that a lack of stipends is a reason for volunteer turnover. Similarly, McBride et al (2011) suggest that volunteers who received a stipend found the stipend to be important, and even critical, to being able to participate.…”

Section: Synthesis Of Best Practicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recruiting and Retaining Older Adults in Volunteer Programs: Best Practices and Next Steps

Sellon

2014

Ageing Int

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The baby boomer generation has begun to reach retirement age. What this highly-educated and racially-diverse cohort does in its retirement years has implications for the boomers, their communities, and society. Formal volunteering has been suggested as a mechanism for engaging older adults, as it has been associated with physical and emotional health benefits. However, older adults from underrepresented groups are not as likely to engage in formal volunteer activities and may miss out on these benefits. A review of the literature identifies seven best practices for engaging older adults, including those from minority groups, in formal volunteer activities. These include: personal invitation, role flexibility, stipends, social interaction, support from staff, meaningfulness, and recognition. Using the framework of the Strengths Perspective, identifying and utilizing the strengths of individuals and communities and volunteer goal setting are suggested as additional best practices that may be particularly relevant in attracting a diverse set of older adult volunteers.

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“…Few studies have focused on the importance of organizational support in promoting the benefits of volunteering among older adults [42], and organizational support has been described as a neglected factor in research related to voluntary work in general [43]. Although their study was not of older adults, Hildago and Moreno [43] found that the characteristics of the tasks and jobs performed by volunteers were a main predictor of worker satisfaction and motivation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Peeling Potatoes as Health Promotion? Self-Perceived Benefits of Volunteering among Older Adult Volunteers in a Norwegian Volunteer Centre

Berg¹,

Johansen²

2017

JSS

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In recent years, voluntary work undertaken by older people has been viewed as a possible way to link aging populations with individual and societal needs related to healthy aging. Based on focus group interviews, the study aims to clarify how volunteering is maintained in older populations and examines how older adults (aged 65+ years) in a Norwegian volunteer centre perceived the benefits of volunteering. The results of the study highlight the importance of the volunteer centre as a place in which to participate and be social, for a sense of belonging to a fellowship of co-volunteers, and as an arena for personal growth and adaption to old age. These aspects were described by the volunteers as health promoting. Additionally, the context of the voluntary work, as the volunteer activities and the way they were organized, was significant for their experiences. From these findings, it is a need for in-depth studies of the dynamics of everyday volunteer work in order to gain a better understanding of the relationship between self-rated health benefits and the organizational contexts in which older adults retain to work voluntarily.

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Why do older adult volunteers stop volunteering?

Cited by 75 publications

References 31 publications

Productivity & Engagement in an Aging America: The Role of Volunteerism

Productivity & Engagement in an Aging America: The Role of Volunteerism

Recruiting and Retaining Older Adults in Volunteer Programs: Best Practices and Next Steps

Peeling Potatoes as Health Promotion? Self-Perceived Benefits of Volunteering among Older Adult Volunteers in a Norwegian Volunteer Centre

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