Older Volunteers' Competence Training

Older Volunteers' Competence Training for Community-based Long-term Care Services

This project was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the competence training program in improving the knowledge and skills of volunteer work, the motivation for volunteering, self-efficacy, and satisfaction with volunteer work among older volunteers.

A cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted to test the effects of a 3-month comprehensive competence training program in improving the knowledge and skills of volunteer work, the motivation for volunteering, self-efficacy, and satisfaction with volunteer work among older volunteers. Using convenience sampling, 10 senior activity centers with 162 older volunteers were recruited and cluster-randomized to the intervention group (5 centers) or wait-list comparison group (5 centers). The intervention group received a 3-hour weekly course training session in four consecutive weeks and provided services to community-dwelling older adults for two months; the comparison group provided their routine services at senior activity centers. Data were collected at baseline, one month, and three months into the study.

Inclusion Criteria:

• older adults age ≥ 65
• able to read and write in Chinese
• being a volunteer at the senior activity center for at least 1 month

Exclusion Criteria:

• illiterate