Impact of Participating in Volunteer Activities for Residents Living in Long-Term-Care Facilities
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a volunteer activity on the perceived well-being of long-term-care (LTC) residents. Residents from five LTC facilities were randomly assigned into either a mentoring or a usual-care control group. Residents in the mentoring group tutored conversational skills to English-as-a-second-language students on a one-on-one basis for 1 hour twice per week for 12 weeks. Well-being, as a global outcome construct, was measured at baseline, after intervention, and at 3-month follow-up using the Geriatric Depression Scale, Life Satisfaction Index–A, and a self-rated health question. After intervention, residents who participated in the mentoring group rated their level of well-being higher ( p = .047) than those in the usual-care group on the basis of a multivariate nonparametric global statistical test. The positive effect of mentoring on well-being relative to the control was sustained at 3-month follow-up assessment ( p = .029). Findings provide preliminary support for engaging LTC residents in volunteer mentoring activities to improve their well-being.
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The review identified five independent RCTs.
“As three RCT papers reported different outcomes collected at the same follow-up from the Experience Corps trial [30,35,58]; a total of five independent RCTs [33,37,54,62] were identified.”
From Is volunteering a public health intervention? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the health and survival of volunteers (2013) · cites this paper as [62]
With the possible exception of wellbeing, the limited trial evidence did not support findings from observational studies.
“With the possible exception of wellbeing [62], the limited trial evidence did not support findings from observational studies.”
From Is volunteering a public health intervention? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the health and survival of volunteers (2013) · cites this paper as [62]
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- Authors
- Yuen, H. K., Huang, P., Burik, J. K., & Smith, T. G.
- Affiliations
- Medical University of South Carolina (US)
- Peng Huang, PhD, is Associate Professor, Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics and Epidemiology, College of Graduate Studies, Medical University of Charleston, Charleston
- Jerry K. Burik, MHS, OTR/L, is Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy Educational Program, College of Health Professions, Medical University of Charleston, Charleston
- Thomas G. Smith, PhD, is Associate Professor, Center for Academic Excellence, Medical University of Charleston, Charleston
- Venue
- American Journal of Occupational Therapy
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2008-01
- Volume
- 62
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 71-76
- ISSN
- 0272-9490 (ISSN-L)
- 1943-7676
- OpenAlex
- W2053739599
- Cited by
- 63
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 4.51
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Occupational Therapy (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (1r03ag021786-01)
- National Institute on Aging (1 R03 AG21786-01)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Nonprofit Sector and Volunteering
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Aging, Health, and Disability
- Keywords
- volunteer mentoring, long-term care residents, well-being, English as a second language, life satisfaction, depression, self-rated health, older adults, long-term care facilities
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Personal Satisfaction, Residential Facilities, South Carolina, Volunteers, Patient Satisfaction
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