Cao Qiuchang, Dabelko-Schoeny Holly I, White Katie, Maleku Arati, Sheldon Marisa
College of Social Work, the Ohio State University, 1947 College Rd, Columbus, Ohio, United States.
Age Friendly Columbus and Franklin County, Blackburn Community Recreation Center, Columbus, Ohio, United States.
J Gerontol Soc Work. 2021 Jun;64(4):388-404. doi: 10.1080/01634372.2021.1897723. Epub 2021 Mar 8.
Volunteering is often considered an important component of productive and active aging. Although there is a rich body of literature on the predictors and outcomes of volunteering among the general older adults in the United States (U.S.), few studies have explored the unique volunteering experiences of culturally and linguistically diverse older adults. Given the growing number of diverse older adults and the importance of optimizing their contributions to society, this study investigates the challenges and benefits of volunteering among low-income diverse older adults. We conducted eight 90-minute focus groups in six languages (English, Nepali, Khmer, Somali, Russian, and Chinese) with 70 older volunteers attending a Senior Companions monthly training in a U.S. Midwestern metropolitan area. Data analysis followed the Rapid and Rigorous Qualitative Data Analysis (RADaR) technique and thematic analysis through an interactive team approach. Three overarching themes highlighted the of volunteering: (1) transportation, (2) community emergencies and workload, and (3) family caregiving; and three themes reflected the of volunteering: (1) stress-relief, (2) training and information, and (3) peer support and socialization. Study findings shed light on diverse older adults' unique volunteering experiences with implications for recruitment and retention.
志愿服务通常被视为积极老龄化和富有成效的重要组成部分。尽管在美国普通老年人中，有大量关于志愿服务的预测因素和结果的文献，但很少有研究探讨文化和语言多样化的老年人独特的志愿服务经历。鉴于多样化老年人的数量不断增加，以及优化他们对社会贡献的重要性，本研究调查了低收入多样化老年人参与志愿服务的挑战和益处。我们在美国中西部一个大都市地区，用六种语言（英语、尼泊尔语、高棉语、索马里语、俄语和中文）进行了八个90分钟的焦点小组讨论，70名老年志愿者参加了高级同伴月度培训。数据分析采用快速严格定性数据分析（RADaR）技术，并通过互动团队方法进行主题分析。三个总体主题突出了志愿服务的挑战：（1）交通，（2）社区紧急情况和工作量，以及（3）家庭照顾；三个主题反映了志愿服务的益处：（1）缓解压力，（2）培训和信息，以及（3）同伴支持和社交。研究结果揭示了多样化老年人独特的志愿服务经历，对招募和留住志愿者具有启示意义。
