Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
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Preparing the ground
- Author:
- -
- Journal article citation:
- Volunteering, 64, December 2000, p.13.
- Publisher:
- Volunteering England
Looks at how the charity Sixty Plus, in Kensington and Chelsea, supports older resident's in maintaining their independence - particularly through the gardening work carried out by its volunteers.
Looking to the long term: the Japanese approach
- Author:
- CURRY Natasha
- Publisher:
- Nuffield Trust
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Place of publication:
- London
This briefing highlights two examples of preventative service from Japan which provide low level support to older people before their health deteriorates. The “Ten Million House” is run by volunteers and provides an informal meeting space for older people and activities. It aims to connect older people who are at risk of becoming isolated before their health deteriorates, providing them with an informal network they can rely on when their care needs increase. The ‘Dream Lake Village’ day centre provides low-level care to older people who live at home but who need some help with daily activities. It has been designed to increase users’ independence and prevent their decline. The examples show how, instead of waiting for those people to deteriorate to the point where they need care, the Japanese Government is encouraging municipal governments to invest in community facilities, volunteering and social support networks. (Edited publisher abstract)
Making a difference through volunteering: the impact of volunteers who support and care for people at home
- Authors:
- BOWERS Helen, et al
- Publisher:
- CSV
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 140p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The research found that volunteers can break social isolation and improve independence and well-being among older people. Researchers found that 83 per cent of older people who receive volunteer support, report improvements in their quality of life. The report found that volunteers can boost people’s confidence and self-esteem, because someone who isn’t being paid thinks they are important enough to care about. The research noted the wide range of tasks carried out by volunteers, which are often not provided by any other sector, such as dog-walking, accompanying people to doctor appointments and helping with housework. Volunteers provide a service different from but complementary to the statutory sector. The report argues that this should be encouraged and developed and recommends that volunteers be treated as part of a very broad public services system.
The enablers
- Author:
- HAMILTON Neil
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 24.4.03, 2003, p.30.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
The government is funding a project managed by Help the Aged which aims to integrate voluntary sector services in intermediate care for older people. Looks briefly at the seven programmes.
Age UK Doncaster Circles project: evaluation report 17/18
- Authors:
- CLIFFORD Carol, BOWN Helen
- Publisher:
- National Development Team for Inclusion
- Publication year:
- 2018
- Pagination:
- 49
- Place of publication:
- Bath
An evaluation of the Circles for Independence in Later Life (CFILL) project in Doncaster, from the period April 2017 to July 2018. Based on the Community Circles model, the project focuses on increasing social engagement, independence and resilience of older people, particularly those at risk of hospitalisation or entry into a care home. The model has been adapted to support older people who have no family or friends or where they don’t want them to be part of the circle. The volunteers becoming part of an older person’s social network or ‘circle’ rather than facilitating others to create one. The evaluation draws on both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. The findings show that during the evaluation period 112 people have been involved in the initiative, 76 have had contact with a Circles Connector at Age UK Doncaster, and 40 people out of the 76 who are actively engaged have been matched with a volunteer. The evaluation shows that the project is having a positive impact for those involved towards the four project outcomes: increased confidence in managing long-term health conditions and staying independent; improvements in mental wellbeing; an increase in social connections and less isolation; and benefits for families and volunteers. (Edited publisher abstract)
Improving life satisfaction for the elderly living independently in the community: care recipients' perspective of volunteers
- Author:
- WILSON Anne
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Health Care, 51(2), February 2012, pp.125-139.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Informal carers (in this case referring to unpaid volunteers not related to those in need) provide a range of services to help older people with health and social needs to remain living independently in their own homes and communities. This article reports on clients' perspectives of support received from a volunteer support programme in South Australia which aims to increase the independence of frail and older people isolated in their own homes. A qualitative study was undertaken, using face-to-face semi-structured interviews with 16 randomly selected clients to gather data. The article describes the results of analysis, including quotations from the transcribed interviews, which identified 3 main themes relating to improved life satisfaction: being helped with daily activities, positive human contact, and fear of a poorer quality of life. It concludes that the findings demonstrate that older people are able to remain independent if provided with appropriate community care services, and that addressing recipients' social, emotional, and mobility needs supported them to remain living at home.
Changes in social participation and volunteer activity among recently widowed older adults
- Authors:
- DONNELLY Elizabeth A., HINTERLONG James E.
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 50(2), April 2010, pp.158-169.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This paper describes how widowhood eliminates a key source of support that may trigger greater involvement in social activities and volunteer participation, which are related to better late-life health and well-being. The paper re-examines and builds upon two recent studies exploring recent widowhood and social participation (Utz, Carr, Nesse, and Wortman’s 2002 “The effect of widowhood on older adults’ social participation: An evaluation of activity, disengagement, and continuity theories,” The Gerontologist, 42, 522–533 and Li’s 2007 “Recovering from spousal bereavement in later life: Does volunteer participation play a role?” Journal of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 62, S257–S266). A synthetic cohort of 228 recently widowed individuals aged 60 years and older was compared with 228 random, non-widowed older adult controls across 3 waves of Americans’ Changing Lives data. Estimating equations were used to gauge the impact of widowhood on levels of social participation and formal and informal volunteerism, controlling for social, economic, demographic, and psychological factors. Findings showed that, similar to Utz et al., widowhood was positively related to informal social participation but not formal social participation. Unlike Li, results did not show a significant relationship between widowhood and formal or informal volunteerism, but, controlling for prior participation, widowhood remained significantly related to informal and formal social participation. In summary, the authors suggest that continuity of volunteer engagement and enhanced social participation are important following widowhood, and, given their positive associations with late-life well-being, efforts to help older widows and widowers increase their social participation and maintain patterns of volunteerism are warranted.
'Shortcut' to 'making a difference through volunteering' no. 3: volunteers
- Authors:
- EASTERBROOK Lorna, et al
- Publisher:
- CSV
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 3p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This ShortCut is the third in a series of five briefing papers that sets out issues for those involved in commissioning, providing and receiving volunteer services such as home care and intermediate care. It draws on research carried out in 2005-06 by the Older People’s Programme on services provided and supported by British Red Cross, CSV/RSVP and Help the Aged.
'Shortcut' to 'making a difference through volunteering' no. 1: overview of the research
- Authors:
- EASTERBROOK Lorna, et al
- Publisher:
- CSV
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 7p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This ShortCut is the first in a series of five briefing papers that sets out issues for those involved in commissioning, providing and receiving volunteer services such as home care and intermediate care. It draws on research carried out in 2005-06 by the Older People’s Programme on services provided and supported by British Red Cross, CSV/RSVP and Help the Aged.
'Shortcut' to 'making a difference through volunteering' no. 2: people supported by volunteers
- Authors:
- EATSRBROOK Lorna, et al
- Publisher:
- CSV
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 3p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This ShortCut is the second in a series of five briefing papers that sets out issues for those involved in commissioning, providing and receiving volunteer services such as home care and intermediate care. It draws on research carried out in 2005-06 by the Older People’s Programme on services provided and supported by British Red Cross, CSV/RSVP and Help the Aged.