The experiences and needs of older people receiving volunteer services in Chinese elderly care institutions: A qualitative study

Abstract

Abstract Background Elderly people living in elderly institutions are eager to get volunteer help, but their satisfaction with volunteer services is not high. To better carry out volunteer services and improve the effectiveness of services, it is necessary to have a deep understanding of the real experience and needs of older people for volunteer services. Methods The purposive sampling method was used to select 14 older people from two elderly care institutions in Hangzhou and conduct semi-structured interviews. Collaizzi's seven-step method was used to analyze the data. Results Older people in nursing institutions have both positive and negative experiences in the process of accepting volunteer services; positive experiences include feeling the warmth of society and contributing to a better life, while negative experiences include the formalization of the service process, the lack of regularity in the frequency of services, and the mismatch between service supply and demand. The demand for volunteer services mainly focuses on emotional comfort, cultural entertainment, and knowledge learning. Conclusion Older people in elderly care institutions have varied volunteering experiences, and their volunteer demand is diversified. Volunteer service needs of older people should be accurately assessed, and volunteer service activities should be targeted.