Fengyan Tang

What resources are needed for volunteerism? A life course perspective

Using secondary data analysis of three waves of data from the Americans’ Changing Lives surveys, this study examines what resources in terms of human, social, and cultural capital are needed in volunteerism and whether there is any age cohort difference in the relationships of volunteerism with human, social, and cultural capital. Interaction terms between age cohort and resources were created and the effects were tested through the generalized estimating equations method. The findings show older cohorts relied more on human capital and social integration to expand volunteer hours and organizational involvement, whereas younger people needed more spiritual and social supports to increase volunteer commitment. These research findings point to the importance of developing resources for lifelong volunteerism. The findings suggest that volunteer organizations should take cohort-specific strategies to recruit and facilitate potential volunteers, especially in the older population, based on the resources needed for volunteering.

Organizational Support and Volunteering Benefits for Older Adults

PURPOSE This study tested a theoretical model of volunteering benefits and examined the mechanism through which volunteering benefits older adults. DESIGN AND METHODS This is a 2-wave study of 253 older adult volunteers serving in 10 volunteer programs. Older volunteers completed the mailed surveys in 2005 and 2006. Structural equation modeling was used to define the latent variables and to test direct and indirect relationships among organizational support, socioemotional benefits, and self-reported health. RESULTS Organizational support (measured by choice of volunteer activity, training, and ongoing support) had significant direct associations with 2 latent factors of socioemotional benefits, that is, perceived contribution and personal benefits. Perceived contribution was significantly related to mental health. Additionally, older volunteers with lower socioeconomic status (SES) committed more hours and perceived more personal benefits than higher SES peers. IMPLICATIONS These findings suggest that volunteer programs can provide various organizational supports to older volunteers, especially to low-SES volunteers, in order to promote the socioemotional and health benefits of volunteering to older adults. Psychological well-being of older adults can be improved through engagement in meaningful volunteer activities and contribution to others.

Inclusion of Diverse Older Populations in Volunteering: The Importance of Institutional Facilitation

As older adults volunteer in greater numbers, concerns are being expressed about the exclusion of older adults who have historically been marginalized from volunteering. This study identifies the importance of institutional facilitation of older adults in volunteer programs, especially for those of lower socioeconomic status. A questionnaire assessing the importance of institutional facilitation in volunteering was completed by 374 volunteers aged 60 years and older from a national sample. Institutional facilitation was measured by multidimensional items capturing role flexibility, compensation, recognition, and accommodation. Flexibility—especially, choice of activities and ability to set own schedule— was perceived as most important to volunteers. Low-income and non-White volunteers gave more importance to institutional facilitators of engagement. This study suggests that voluntary organizations can facilitate the inclusion of older adults from diverse backgrounds through increasing flexibility, compensation, and recognition.

Engaging Older Adults in Volunteering: Conceptualizing and Measuring Institutional Capacity

Concern exists that organizations are not ready to take advantage of the growing number of older volunteers. This study offers a conceptualization and preliminary measurement strategy to enhance knowledge on the institutional capacity of volunteer programs to engage older adults. Data were collected from 51 program directors to assess 10 dimensions of institutional capacity: specification of role, dissemination of information, role availability, compensation of expenses, in-kind incentive, skill development, role flexibility, role recognition, accommodation, and integration. Eight factors were identified. The subscales were moderately reliable, and dimensions were independent. Programs rated highest on the capacity to recognize volunteers and disseminate information and lowest on their ability to provide cash compensation. Subsequent research on institutional capacity depends on its strong measurement. Future works will assess the extent to which these institutional capacity factors affect the recruitment, retention, and effective utilization of older volunteers.

Aging in Place or Relocation: Perceived Awareness of Community-Based Long-Term Care and Services

ABSTRACT This study used data from the Community Partnership for Older Adults Program Survey (N = 4,611) to examine associations between the perceived awareness of community-based long-term care and supportive services and the anticipation for aging in place and relocation. Respondents varied substantially in their knowledge about services and anticipation for aging in place and relocation. Perceived availability and unavailability of a series of community services was associated with the likelihood of anticipating aging in place and relocation, and awareness of the lack of visiting nurses, personal assistance, or transportation was related to respondents reporting a younger age at which they anticipated needing help to age in place or anticipating a need to relocate. Findings have implications for raising the public awareness of community-based services in addressing the needs of community-dwelling elders for aging in place and relocation.

Involvement in Voluntary Organizations: How Older Adults Access Volunteer Roles?

ABSTRACT This study examines how older adults access organizational volunteer roles and what socio-structural factors are associated with the access. Using the data from the Current Population Survey (U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 2002), bivariate analyses show that there are variations in access to volunteer roles across types of organizations. Results from multinomial logistic regressions indicate that education, income, age, and race are associated with the ways that older adults access volunteer roles. Voluntary organizations are advised to approach older adults directly, use current volunteers to recruit potential ones, publicize their organizational goals, and disseminate relevant information in efforts to improve access of older adults to volunteer roles.

More Caregiving, Less Working Caregiving Roles and Gender Difference

This study examined the relationship of caregiving roles to labor force participation using the nationally representative data from the Health and Retirement Study. The sample was composed of men and women aged 50 to 61 years (N = 5,119). Caregiving roles included caregiving for spouse, parents, and grandchildren; a summary of three caregiving roles was used to indicate multiple caregiving roles. Bivariate analysis using chi-square and t tests and binary logistic regression models were applied. Results show that women caregivers for parents and/or grandchildren were less likely to be in the labor force than non-caregivers and that caregiving responsibility was not related to labor force participation for the sample of men. Findings have implication for supporting family caregivers, especially women, to balance work and caregiving commitments.

Social Support Networks and Expectations for Aging in Place and Moving

This study investigated the relationship of social support networks with expectations for aging in place and moving in a sample of relatively healthy, community-dwelling adults (N = 4,611). Results indicated that those with aging in place expectation and those with moving expectation were comparable in sociodemographics, self-rated health, and social support networks. Knowledge of home- and community-based services (HCBS) availability was associated with respondents reporting an older age at which they expected regular help and moving. When compared with those who did not offer an age prediction, knowledge of HCBS availability, information sources for personal care, and social activity engagement were important in understanding the choices of age ranges at which respondents expected to age in place and to move. Findings point to the importance of expanding social support networks, providing opportunities for social activity, and strengthening information networks with the emphasis on targeting older adults and their caregivers.

Home- and Community-Based Services Utilization and Aging in Place

This study examines the relationship between home- and community-based service (HCBS) utilization and perceived service needs for aging in place versus relocation, using the data from the Community Partnership for Older Adults Survey. Among the vulnerable, community-dwelling older adult sample (N = 2,001), users of adult day programs, housekeeping, senior lunch, helpline, or personal assistance services were more likely to indicate they would need regular help to remain living on their own. By contrast, users of senior centers, personal assistance, or visiting nurse services were more likely to indicate they would move out due to health problems. Home repair service users were less likely to perceive the need for relocation. Findings have implications for improving long-term care and supportive service systems to meet the current and future needs of community-dwelling older adults.

Older Adults Seeking Mental Health Counseling in a NORC

The authors used the Andersen model to compare older adults’ help seeking from clergy to help seeking from other sources of formal mental health services. Data were from the Naturally Occurring Retirement Community Demonstration Project. Multinomial logistic regression was used to compare sources from which help was sought.The results indicate that older adults sought help from clergy more frequently than from other formal sources. Increased stress levels, higher intrinsic religiosity, and being younger were related to seeking help from clergy. Greater stress and attendance at religious services were related to help seeking from other sources. Only greater frequency of attending religious services was associated with a greater likelihood of seeking help from clergy versus other formal providers.The increasing elderly population and the attendant crisis in mental health services might best be addressed through public-private partnerships in which mental health professionals assist clergy in identifying problems and making appropriate referrals.