Volunteer labor contribution in nutrition programs for the elderly

Using the productivity ratio, labor min/meal, this study analyzed the contribution of volunteer as well as paid staff in the congregate and home delivered meal services of eight nutrition programs for the elderly. A simple monitoring instrument was used to record volunteer and paid staff work activities. The contribution by volunteers was substantial and varied significantly among the centers and by number of meals served. Volunteer time was greater than paid staff time for the service and cleaning components of congregate service and for the transportation component of home delivered service. Understanding the volunteer contribution in elderly nutrition programs is important to program administrators as they make decisions for the provision of nutrition services to an expanding clientele with limited federal funding.