Intervention Fidelity of a Volunteer-Led Montessori-Based Intervention in a Canadian Long-Term Care Home

Impact of trained volunteers' services in caring for older persons with dementia: a systematic review

Dementia causes a great burden of disease globally. Volunteers' contributions in caring for older persons with dementia (OPD) are growing. This review aims to evaluate the impact of trained volunteers' involvement in providing care and support for OPD. PubMed, ProQuest, EBSCOHost, and Cochrane Library databases were searched using specific keywords. Inclusion criteria were studies of OPD who received interventions delivered by trained volunteers, which were published between 2018 and 2023. Seven studies were included in the final systematic review, comprising studies using quantitative and qualitative approaches. A wide range of outcomes was seen in both acute and home/community-based care settings. Improvements in social interaction, loneliness, mood, ability to recall, and physical activity of OPD were found. Carers and trained volunteers were also found to benefit. Trained volunteers' involvement in OPD care plays a very valuable role for OPD, their caregivers, the volunteers, and in turn to society. This review also emphasizes the importance of person-centred care for OPD.

Volunteers' experiences building relationships with long-term care residents who have advanced dementia

Healthcare volunteers make important contributions within healthcare settings, including long-term care. Although some studies conducted in long-term care have shown that volunteers contribute positively to the lives of people living with advanced dementia, others have raised questions about the potential for increasing volunteers’ involvement. The purpose of this study is to understand volunteers’ perspectives on their work and relationships with long-term care residents with advanced dementia. A total of 16 volunteers participated in semi-structured interviews about their experiences. Interview data were analyzed using an inductive approach to thematic analysis. In this analysis, a central concept, relationships in dementia care volunteering, enveloped four related themes: mutuality and empathy as the foundation for dementia care relationships with residents, family as the focus of volunteer relationships, relationships shaped by grief, and staff support for volunteer relationships. We conclude that in long-term care settings, volunteer roles and relationship networks are more robust than they are often imagined to be. We recommend that long-term care providers looking to engage volunteers consider training and supporting volunteers to cultivate relationships with residents, family, and staff; navigate experiences of loss; and be considered as members of dementia care teams.

Effectiveness and sustainability of volunteering with older people living in care homes: A mixed methods systematic review

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. While volunteering is common in community settings, care home residents are less likely to benefit from their input. We conducted a mixed methods systematic review and stakeholder consultation that aimed to identify volunteer activities in care homes and evidence for their effectiveness and sustainability. Databases were searched from 2000 to July 2021. Studies of all designs reporting volunteer-led activities with care home residents 65-years or over were included. Data on interventions, study population, study context, outcomes and implementation issues were extracted and synthesised. We identified 36 studies on the use, effectiveness and implementation of volunteering in care homes, although the overall strength of evidence was weak. Resident engagement and mood appeared to improve during volunteer-led activities, but there was little research examining the longer-term impact. Qualitative and stakeholder data suggest considerable investment is needed to initiate and maintain volunteering initiatives, but there are positive benefits for volunteers, residents and staff if an intervention is sustained. Financial cost for care home facilities is unclear. Interventions that address inequalities in accessing volunteer support within the resident population and between facilities should be considered.