Volunteering in dementia care &amp;ndash; a Norwegian phenomenological study

Söderhamn, Ulrika; Landmark, Bjørg Th.; Aasgaard, Live; Eide, Hilde; Söderhamn, Olle

doi:10.2147/jmdh.s28240

Cited by 25 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…As dementia develops, the supporters may need contact with professionals to discuss emerging problems and obtain advice. In accordance with other studies [36,37], supporters should be informed and supported while maintaining the informality of the contact with the people with YOD. In this way, the supporter service should be more systematically integrated into the health care system, coordinated, and expanded.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

Family Carers of People with Young-Onset Dementia: Their Experiences with the Supporter Service

2016

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Background: Family carers and people with young-onset dementia (YOD) require tailored assistance as dementia progresses. A variety of health care services is needed, including supporter services. To our knowledge, research focusing on experiences with the supporter service is scarce. Aim: To evaluate the supporter service by examining how primary family carers experience the assistance provided. Method: Qualitative interviews with 16 primary family carers of people with YOD were performed from 2014 to 2015. Content analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: Three main themes emerged from the interviews. First, a good match focused on the carers’ experiences of the relationship between the supporter and the person with YOD and included three subthemes: a nice, empathetic personality, a friendship-like relationship, and the content of the meetings. The second theme, relief, addressed the carers’ experiences with the service. The third, coordination, concerned the carers’ relationship with the health care service. Conclusion: Developing tailored services and assistance initiatives is important. A well-organized supporter service is a valuable supplement to formal programs and should be developed as part of an overall support package.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

Family Carers of People with Young-Onset Dementia: Their Experiences with the Supporter Service

2016

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“…Volunteering leads to interactions with other older adults and society, which, as described by Ziegelmann and Knoll [48], can be understood as a distal health behaviour and as a psychosocial pathway to health-related outcomes. Our findings support Söderhamn et al's [49] finding that the context of volunteering for older adults is important for the benefits they experience and for their retention related to be part of a social setting, having an influence on the voluntary work, and the possibility to develop. However, there is a need for a better understanding of these dynamics in daily voluntary work and the generation of positive health benefits from the older adult volunteers' perspective.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

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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“…In a study by Dale et al,9 the sense of being useful to other people is emphasized, as well as taking care of grandchildren. Being a volunteer was shown to be a major positive experience in a study on volunteering in dementia 42. The participants in that study reported that they performed well and expressed feelings of satisfaction.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Lived experiences of self-care among older physically active urban-living individuals

Sundsli¹,

Söderhamn²

2013

CIA

Self Cite

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BackgroundPromoting physical activity is a public health priority in most industrial countries, and physical function is an important factor when taking into consideration older people’s self-care and health. Despite the increasing challenges associated with urbanization and the aging population, urban life appears to be positive in many ways for urban dwellers. However, the manner in which older people live in urban settings and how this influences their ability to take care of themselves should be considered important knowledge for health professionals and politicians to acquire. The aim of this study was to describe the lived experiences of self-care and features that may influence health and self-care among older urban home-dwelling individuals who are physically active.MethodsTen subjects, three women and seven men, who were aged 65–82 years and identified to be physically active, were interviewed. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed according to the descriptive phenomenological method devised by Giorgi.ResultsOur findings showed beneficial self-care. The participants lived active everyday lives and were frequently physically active. They were part of a supportive, inclusive, and promoting fellowship, and they had the opportunity to travel. They utilized their competence and experienced making themselves useful. It was a privilege to be part of a family life as a husband, wife, parent, and/or a grandparent. They acknowledged physical and mental limitations, yet they felt they were in good health.ConclusionHealth professionals and politicians should identify places where fellowship and relationships can be built, as well as encourage older people to use their competence by engagement in volunteering. These interventions are important to support older people’s self-care and health. This may also be a way to reduce ageism in Western societies.

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Volunteering in dementia care – a Norwegian phenomenological study

Cited by 25 publications

References 19 publications

Family Carers of People with Young-Onset Dementia: Their Experiences with the Supporter Service

Family Carers of People with Young-Onset Dementia: Their Experiences with the Supporter Service

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

Lived experiences of self-care among older physically active urban-living individuals

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