Volunteers in a peer support project for caregivers: What motivates them?

Abstract

in recent years, human service agencies have attempted to recruit volunteers from the community at risk to provide emotional and instrumental support to other individuals experiencing the same condition or problem. Programs that assistfamily caregivers or relatives with Alzheimer's disease are on the forefront of using such volunteers, who have themselves been caregivers, as a method of helping to meet family members' needs. This article addresses the question: Why do these individuals choose to volunteer? As an alternative to previous conceptualizations of volunteer motivation, we suggest that identification is a major motivating factor We then present qualitative and quantitative data on volunteer motivation from the 'Peer Support Project'-a friendly visitor' support intervention for family caregivers to persons with Alzheimer's disease. in addition, we discuss the implications of the results for recruiting volunteers in AD caregiver support programs.