Working with volunteers: key issues for gerontological nursing - Future challenges.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Health Services Research
• Volunteer Management

Background:

• Healthcare systems increasingly rely on the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) to support older adults.
• Nurses are expected to collaborate with volunteers to enhance service delivery and patient outcomes.
• Recent policy in England aims to modernize the VCS for National Health Service (NHS) priorities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze current issues within the VCS relevant to nursing practice.
• To explore the evolving role and impact of volunteers in health and social care.
• To inform effective collaboration between nurses and the VCS for older people's well-being.

Main Methods:

• Policy analysis of recent initiatives in England.
• Identification of trends in service commissioning and procurement.
• Discussion of key issues for nurse practitioners regarding volunteer integration.

Main Results:

• The VCS is undergoing modernization to align with NHS priorities.
• Commissioning trends will shape the future role and number of health and social care volunteers.
• Key considerations include the changing volunteer role, capacity, workforce implications, and risks/outcomes for older people.

Conclusions:

• Effective collaboration between nurses and the VCS is essential for supporting older adults.
• Understanding policy and commissioning trends is vital for optimizing volunteer contributions.
• Further research is needed on the risks and outcomes associated with volunteer involvement in older adult care.