Volunteering and ageing

Volunteering is one of the most common aspects of society. People volunteer on different occasions often to help out those who are in need and as a way of giving back to the community. While a lot of research has been conducted on the benefits of volunteering to the person or organization getting assisted, there is little information on how volunteering benefits the person who does the voluntary work. This study will, therefore, focus on the correlation that exists between volunteering and impact on overall health among older adults. 

Research Design

           The data used for the study will be drawn from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing as well as telephone interviews. English Longitudinal Study of Ageing is an ongoing study that examines its respondents after every two years. The information is analyzed and used to assess the changes that occur over time rather than relying on information that was collected in the past. It contains information regarding the health, social and economic well being of a sample aged between 50 years and above and focuses on their overall health, social networks, voluntary work, and other information that will be ideal for the research. The telephone interviews will be based on respondents selected from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. 

The data collection methods are ideal for the study as they give current information regarding the area under study. The measures used by the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing are designed by experts and this adds on to the credibility of the site as a source for collecting data. Since the respondents in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing are examined after every 2 years, the information stored is not only recent but also shows the history of the individuals and the changes that have occurred concerning their health and overall, well being. Telephone interviews, on the other hand, are ideal in that they offer convenience to both the interviewer and interviewee. Since the population under study comprises of older adults, interviewing the comfort of their home will be more convenient than allocating specific locations where the interview will take place. The approach is also advantageous in that it saves time and cost that would have incurred if the researcher had to move around conducting the interviews. 

There are however disadvantages in that the information from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing relies on a set of respondents examined over time. Relying on the same population could lead to under-representation of the entire population in general especially with the various changes occurring in society. Another disadvantage lies in the use of telephone interviews which are prone to disruptions. While telephones make it easy to reach the respondents, the quality of information may be affected by various factors such as noise, interruptions and lack the personal touch of a face to face interview. One of the problems that could be encountered is the inability to reach the respondent or lack of clarity during the interview. To avoid this, the interviewee will be notified in advance on the date and time for the interview to allow enough time tom prepare. Pilot tests will be conducted before the actual interview to assess the nature of the connection to do away with any interruptions before the interview. 

The study will rely on qualitative research as it offers more detailed information. To select the respondents for the study, the research will employ the use of convenience sampling. convenience sampling is ideal because the success of telephone interviews is dependent on the respondents' willingness to participate. The first step will be to identify potential candidates for the study through the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. convenience sampling will be used to identify 50 respondents that meet the criteria and are willing to participate in the study. Telephone interviews will be conducted for 20 minutes. The researchers will be trained on telephone etiquette as well as the best approach to use for telephone interviews. Other than the respondents, family members, and caregivers will be encouraged to assist however they can to aid the respondent in participating in the study. Their involvement will greatly assist in data collection as they will help to ensure that the telephone interviews are conducted with the least disruptions possible.

The main concern with telephone interviews has to do with the confidentiality of the information being shared. The respondents will be informed of the researcher’s intent to keep their identity and any sensitive information private. Anonymity will be maintained throughout the study and researchers will be trained on the same. The training will also include how to go about accessing and storing people’s medical history as this will be required to determine the impact that voluntary work has had on their medical and overall well being. The information will be kept confidential and used strictly for the study. 

Variables and Measures

          The data will be collected through telephone interviews and the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. The statistical analysis waves 2 to 4 of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing will be used to determine the impact that volunteering has on the physical and mental health of older adults. The models used will be based on linear regression that is adjusted for baseline well being of the respondents' physical and mental health. The models will take the form; Well-being = Well-being-1 + Volunteering statust-1 + Controlst-1 + Constant. 

t will indicate a variable that will be measured at the outcome wave

t-1 will indicate variables measured at the wave and preceed the outcome wave. 

Each coefficient will be a reflection of the relative changes that will occur to the respondent’s physical and mental health for those that engage in voluntary work compared to non volunteers. The control variables explaining the relationships that exist between voluntary work and the impact to physical and mental health will be implemented to the model in steps so as to give a better analysis of the corelation between the two. The analytical method will mirror those used by other studies due to the popularity of English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. However, there will be some differences due to the information collected through the telephone interviews as the information will be new. The added data will be used to add more clarity on the impact that volunteer work has on individuals mental and physical health. It will also be used to determine whether motivation is a factor in determining the extent to which the effects are felt. The aim is to assess the amount of volunteer work that can be deemed significant to be the cause in changes in mental and physical health and also to prove the correlation between the two.

Anticpated findings

           Since physical and mental health are greatly influenced by a person’s lifestyle, voluntary work is likely to have a positive impact on patients’ health both physical and mentally. On the physical side, the positive outcome is likely to result from the addedd physical activity engaged by the individual. Rather than leading a sedentary lifestyle, voluntary work will give the idividual something to keep them engaged. The physical activity will act as exercise and as a result, positivelty impact the individual’s physical health.

 The positive outcome is also likely to be more on individuals who volunteer because they enjoy it and not for the benefits to their health. They are likely to be more commited and take on added responsibilies as a result. Those more commited to volunteering are likely to put in extra effort as they are engaged in something, they are passionate about. Although those who volunteer as a form of helping and physical exercice are also likely to benefit physically, their input is going to be limited to their perception of how much contribution is ideal. There is however need for more research to determine what amount of volunteer work is likely to yield the expected results.

Mentally, engaging in voluntary work will expose the individual to new environments that takes them away from their normal routines. Since the older adults have spent a significant percentage of their life working, a shif from this routine could be draining and cause mental strain. Through volunteer work, the older adults are likely to break the monotony by finding something to keep them occupied. The voluntary work will employ the use of their skills and mental ability and in so doing, give them a sense of purpose. In addition, the volunteer programs will expose them to new experiences and new people that will keep them engaged and thus positively impact their mental health.

Implication and recomendations

Voluntary work could help impove the ovewrall quality of health for older adults. The information can therefore be used come up with ideal voluntary work that is intended to help the older adults cope with the changes in life. The information can also be used to structure volunteer programs in such a way that they benefit those in the older stages of life. Since most people in these age groups are retired and have a lot of free time, coming up with strategies that promote bnetter physical and mental health can increase the number of volunteers while still promoting quality health and overall, well being for older adults.

There is however need for more information on whether the impact is for any volunteer. Determining whether the frequency of volunteering and nature of voluntary work could help to identify volunteer programs that will have the most impact on the individual’s physical and mental health. Research could focus on which activities promote physical health and those that are ideal for mental aid. This will ensure that the programs intended to help the elderly are structured to suit specific needs rather than overall mental and physical health. In addition, research should assess whether the impact applies for both genders equally or whether men are affected differently from women. Since physical health is different between genders, research should try to identify whether the impact varies between genders so as to come up with recommendations that suit both men and women equally.

Older adults experience a major change in their life as they get past the ages of 50. It is at this stage that most people retire and have to adopt new lifestyles. Since it is a stage that is also associated with a lot of medical complications, identifying ways to promote physical and mental health can be greatly helpful as it helps individuals to adapt to their new lifestyle while still maintaining positive overall health.