Interests and skills of volunteers in an ombudsman program: opportunities for participation

Volunteers' reasons for interest in and skills they could employ as resident advocates in nursing facilities under the auspices of an ombudsman program were obtained from applications of 778 individuals. A unique feature of the research was that interests and skills were assessed prior to volunteer participation. In contrast to motivations for volunteering, skills of volunteers are infrequently studied; yet, they have implications for training and performance. Age, education, employment, and prior volunteer experience affected reasons for interest and skills. Less education, unemployment, older age, and fewer prior volunteer experiences may identify those with greater obstacles to participation who may benefit from additional education and training. Data from application forms may be used to suggest needed areas of instruction.