Date Presented 04/20/21
OT contributes to productive aging by facilitating occupation-based groups, such as volunteering, in order to increase older adults' participation in the community. This poster will address the effectiveness of a volunteer program on community-dwelling older adults' self-perceptions. Volunteer exploration and participation may serve to promote an individual's psychosocial well-being and quality of life.
Primary Author and Speaker: Bridget Houghton
Additional Authors and Speakers: Margaret Wilhelm, Sara Crandall, Angela Deblasio, Hannah Manczka, and Jeanette Koeth
PURPOSE: This program development project examines the effects of a volunteer program on community-dwelling older adults' self-perceptions. Older adults may isolate themselves from engaging in activities in their community as a result of their perceptions of their own physical and emotional health (Sargent-Cox, Anstey, & Luszcz, 2012). Volunteering is one activity that has been shown to have lasting positive social and emotional effects on individuals throughout the aging process (Lum & Lightfoot, 2005). Volunteering is an occupation within occupational therapy's scope of practice, in which therapists can explore volunteer opportunities in the community and provide participants with volunteer activities to fit the physical, social, and mental capacities of the group members involved.
DESIGN: The study used a one-group pretest-posttest design. Participants were recruited via convenience and snowball sampling. Eligible subjects were adults at least 55 years of age, from the general population (not including late-stage dementia) at Mercy LIFE West Philadelphia and attended the center at least once a week. Participants were required to score at least an 18 or above out of 30 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).
METHOD: The volunteer program was conducted over an 8-week time span. Subjects were asked to participate in the initial information session, the enrollment session, at least 3 out of 5 volunteer activity sessions, and the exit survey session in order to be included in data collection. Participants created volunteer projects in a group setting at the day center. The investigator distributed the projects at the end of each week to the partnering community organizations. The MoCA was used to assess an individual's severity of cognitive function. Changes in self-perception scores were measured using the Self-Perception Profile for Older Adults (SPPOA). Individuals reported their levels of competence within the following domains: Relationships with Friends, Leisure Activities, Nurturance, Self-Esteem, and Life Satisfaction. A demographic questionnaire and exit survey provided information about participant characteristics and overall feelings toward the group.
RESULTS: The results indicated no significant changes in self-perceptions on the SPPOA. The investigators note that this assessment may not have been the most appropriate pretest-posttest measure in evaluating this group. However, positive themes were developed through participant anecdotes and group observation. Individuals appeared to express positive feelings during the group. Individuals felt that the group provided them opportunities to make a difference in their neighboring community, make friends with other participants at the center, and increase their perceived ability to partake in the activities offered throughout the program. On average, the group reported very high scores on the exit survey. The scores depict positive feelings toward the group and its impact on their time at the center.
CONCLUSION: The purpose of this study was to contribute further evidence to the effectiveness of a volunteer program on the self-perceptions of community-dwelling older adults. On average, study participants had fairly positive self-perceptions across designated domain scores for the SPPOA. Anecdotal data suggests that individuals who requested adaptations to specific activities gained more confidence in their ability to engage in the group, overall contributing to their sense of self-esteem. Occupational therapy plays a distinct role in facilitating sustained involvement in community activities through activity analysis and knowledge of the aging process, in order to improve the health and quality of life of seniors.
References
Lum, T., & Lightfoot, E. (2005). The effects of volunteering on the physical and mental health of older people. Research on Aging, 27(1), 31–55. https://doi.org/10.1177/0164027504271349
Sargent-Cox, K. A., Anstey, K. J., & Luszcz, M. A. (2012). The relationship between change in self-perceptions of aging and physical functioning in older adults. Psychology and Aging, 27(3), 750. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027578
Smallfield, S., & Molitor, W. (2018). Occupational Therapy Interventions Supporting Social Participation and Leisure Engagement for Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 72(4), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2018.030627
