Hospital volunteer programs for older people: A systematic scoping review

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Care
• Healthcare Management
• Volunteerism in Healthcare

Background:

• Older adult patients in hospitals often require additional support.
• Therapeutically oriented volunteer programs can significantly aid these patients.
• Evaluating these programs from multiple perspectives is crucial for understanding their impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically scope qualitative evaluations of hospital-based volunteer programs for older patients.
• To synthesize evidence from the perspectives of clinicians, patients, families, and volunteers.

Main Methods:

• A systematic search of nine databases was conducted from January 2002 to November 2022.
• 15 articles were included in the final review out of 549 identified.
• Qualitative evaluations were the focus of the review.

Main Results:

• Clinicians, patients, families, and volunteers all recognized the advantages of volunteer programs for hospitalized older adults.
• Evidence consistently showed positive perceptions of these programs across all stakeholder groups.

Conclusions:

• The benefits of volunteer support for older adults in hospitals, experienced by patients, nurses, family members, and volunteers, surpass the associated challenges.
• Integrating volunteers into healthcare teams, particularly in supporting older adult patients alongside nurses, warrants serious consideration.