Older people living in care homes should be considered part of the wider local community however, little is known about what enables them to connect with people not paid to look after them or family members.
Short Summary
Older people living in care homes should be considered part of the wider local community however, little is known about what enables them to connect with people not paid to look after them or family members.
Volunteering can complement paid and familial support.
This study reviewed the evidence to inform work in partnership with Peterborough care homes to develop schemes that support volunteering and intergenerational work.
Background:
This project was initiated by a family carer who had had variable success in working with charities that organise volunteers to visit older people including those in care homes
Volunteers provide companionship and activities for residents in care homes alongside support from care home staff and family visitors
Volunteering in care homes can comprise of one-to-one or group activities that engage residents in an active or passive way
There are challenges for implementing volunteering activities in care homes. For example, as contained communities where access is often mediated through staff and families, and where organisational context is likely to impact on the success or otherwise of an intervention
We conducted a systematic review and stakeholder consultation that aimed to identify volunteer activities in care homes and evidence for their effectiveness and sustainability.
Project aims
We aimed to synthesise the evidence on volunteering for older people living in care homes to identify how volunteering in care homes is used and conceptualised, evidence on the effectiveness of volunteering in care homes, and what is needed to sustain volunteering interventions in care homes.
Project activity
Systematic review
The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (number CRD42019142701)
Stakeholders with experience of volunteering in care homes. This included care home staff (n=3), volunteers (n=6), and family members of people in care homes (n=1)
The potential or actual impact
Review paper published here
Findings to inform post-pandemic work on volunteering in care homes.
Papers/resources associated with this study
Review paper published in Health and Social Care in the Community
Next steps
Post pandemic work testing different models of supporting volunteering in care homes.
Who was involved?
Claire Goodman, University of Hertfordshire
Frances Bunn, University of Hertfordshire
Mel Handley , University of Hertfordshire
Contact
For more information about this study, contact Mel Handley m.j.handley@herts.ac.uk
