<p>How Volunteers Contribute to Persons with Dementia Coping in Everyday Life</p>

Abstract

Introduction:The society needs volunteers to fulfill its duty to ensure that people with dementia have active and meaningful everyday lives. Volunteers seem to experience their work as positive and meaningful for their own part, but we know less about what motivates volunteers to start working in home-dwelling dementia care and what motivates them to continue their engagement. This study seeks to close some of the knowledge gaps that exist regarding volunteers' engagement in activities for persons with dementia. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore what motivates volunteers to start engaging in volunteer work in home-dwelling dementia care and what motivates them to continue their engagement. Methods: The study design was qualitative, using focus group interviews. Three focus group interviews (n=16) took place between May and June 2018. The text was analyzed using content analysis. Results: Findings in this study indicate that the volunteers were motivated by the feeling of doing an important job for the persons with dementia and their relatives, and that they contribute to their coping with everyday life. Other motivating factors included feeling important to someone, gaining friendship, and sharing common interests. They also believed that they do an important job for the community to fulfill society's goal that people with dementia should stay home longer. However, the volunteers were confused about their role and ask for knowledge, peer support, and clarification of roles. Conclusion: To maintain motivation volunteers need to know what his/her role is. A volunteer can and shall not act as a substitute for a professional, only as a supplement, and the expectations must be addressed to all stakeholders: the health care service, the volunteer, the person with dementia, and their relatives, as we believe that this will contribute to diminishing misunderstandings.

The Effects of Involvement in Training And Volunteering with Families of People With Dementia on The Knowledge and Attitudes of Volunteers Towards Dementia

“…The nding was similar to that of a previous feasibility study, which found that people with higher dementia knowledge and dementia attitude scores were more likely to continue to volunteer (44). Motivation could be affected by knowledge about dementia (18, 42) and re ected in the extent of an individual's involvement in volunteer services (42).…”

“…Furthermore, our study showed that the motivation in volunteering can be enhanced through proper training by improving the volunteers' knowledge and attitudes. Knowledge acquired in training and regular meetings enhanced their competence (e.g., communication skills) and con dence that may drive them to continue to volunteer, because of the increased intrinsic motivation (40,42,43). The nding was similar to that of a previous feasibility study, which found that people with higher dementia knowledge and dementia attitude scores were more likely to continue to volunteer (44).…”

Informal caregivers and persons with dementia’s everyday life coping

“…Enabling informal caregivers to find some time for themselves might strengthen their caring capacity ( Neville et al, 2015 ; Nordtug et al, 2010 ), but they also need to know that their care recipient is safe. According to the informants, some municipalities now have arrangements for this and cooperating with volunteers could represent a potential part ( Malmedal et al, 2020 ).…”

Coping with Everyday Life for Home-Dwelling Persons with Dementia: A Qualitative Study

“…25 Good relations can be taken care of in different activities, also by contribution from volunteers. 20 Positive strategies and coping mechanisms are associated with sense of self, dignity and quality of care. 45 Allowing self-determination can also strengthen the ability to manage stress 23 through problem-oriented and emotional coping.…”

“…[17][18][19] Contributions from volunteers are also important for experiencing coping in everyday life for persons with dementia. 20 According to Folkman and Lazarus there are different strategies for coping in stressful situations. 21 A review study of older persons, including those with cognitive dysfunction, found association between resources and strategies for coping and depression.…”