Does context matter? Voluntary work in long-term care

Abstract

Introduction: Increased voluntary work in long-term care (LTC) is encouraged in white papers in Norway as well as in many other western states. This is due to the growth in the number of service recipients and a subsequent economic burden for the state. Voluntary work in nursing homes and home care services take place in different spatial contexts, but little attention has been paid to how the different contexts may potentially influence the possibilities for voluntary work. The aim of this study is to obtain new knowledge of the significance of context in recruitment of volunteers in LTC. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among leaders in nursing homes and home services in 50 municipalities across all regions of Norway. Descriptive analysis was used. Results: According to the leaders, home care services had less voluntary work than nursing homes. Respondents from home care scored “poor flow of information” and “low interest in the municipality” as major hinderances, more so than respondents from nursing homes did. Discussion: Nursing homes typically have many residents under one roof following a similar schedule. Thus, volunteer-run activities are held more easily at set times and incorporated into the daily life of the institutions. On the other hand, home dwellers in home care stay in a more individualised setting with more autonomy and can opt out of activities that nursing home residents would normally join. Skill acquisition, networking and socializing are common motivations for volunteering, and a nursing home setting may be an easier context to obtain this. The governmental endeavour for increased voluntary work in LTC can be seen as an effort to meet expected rises in public expenditure. However, the realism can be debated due to substantial challenges on the future potential of volunteerism in LTC, especially in the home care context.

Exploring aspects of significance when arranging dog visits to home-dwelling patients: An action research approach

“…1,6 Unpredictable changes in plans were described by both volunteers and nurses. This may be related to the specific characteristics of home care services, which Tingvold and Førland 24 explain include organizational matters that affect volunteering. Home-dwelling patients have the freedom to choose who can access their home and to accept or decline activities.…”

“…Home-dwelling patients have the freedom to choose who can access their home and to accept or decline activities. 24 During the project, there were a few occasions when either patients or volunteers canceled visits, based on personal preferences. By definition, voluntary work comprises providing unpaid efforts at one's own initiative, 11 which means that volunteers have the freedom of choice to participate or quit activities.…”

“…Poor information flow and blurred division of tasks between volunteers and staff have been previously documented. 11,24,25 The nurses’ uncertainty about sharing patient information with the volunteers indicate a lack of communication related to the signed duty of confidentiality of all the volunteers. The volunteers and nurses also pointed out a need to establish collaborative routines.…”

“…18,21 Most studies of dog visits have been carried out at institutions such as nursing homes, 22 and a 2017 review 23 revealed that limited research has addressed dog visits to home-dwelling patients. While facilitators and inhibitors of successful collaboration between public health services and volunteers have been identified, 11,[24][25][26] to our knowledge, no study has focused exclusively on such collaboration processes related to dog visits in home care.…”

Volunteers’ experiences building relationships with long-term care residents who have advanced dementia

“…Volunteers play a critical role in promoting a relational approach to care in long-term care settings. In some ways, this is a natural outcropping of volunteers’ own motivations, which include working with people, networking, and socializing ( Claxton-Oldfield et al, 2005 ; Tingvold & Førland, 2021 ). Volunteers typically experience their relationships as very rewarding and associated with positive feelings and increased empathy ( Greenwood et al, 2013 , 2018 ).…”