How trained volunteers can improve the quality of hospital care for older patients. A qualitative evaluation within the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP)

Bas Steunenberg; Roos van der Mast; Marije J. Strijbos; Sharon K. Inouye; Marieke J. Schuurmans

doi:10.1016/j.gerinurse.2016.06.014

How trained volunteers can improve the quality of hospital care for older patients. A qualitative evaluation within the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP)

Bas Steunenberg^*, Roos van der Mast, Marije J. Strijbos, Sharon K. Inouye, Marieke J. Schuurmans

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate, using a mixed-methods design, the added value of a trained Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) volunteer to the quality of hospital care in the Netherlands. The trained volunteers daily stimulate older patients, at risk of a delirium, to eat, to drink, and to exercise, and they provide walking assistance and cognitive stimulation. This study showed that each group appreciated the extra attention and service from the volunteers. The positive effect on feelings of loneliness during the hospital stay was an unexpected outcome. The volunteers themselves appreciated their work. In conclusion, a HELP volunteer should be provided to every older hospital patient.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	458-463
Number of pages	6
Journal	Geriatric Nursing
Volume	37
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2016.06.014
Publication status	Published - 1 Nov 2016

Keywords

HELP
Older adults
Quality of hospital care
Trained volunteers

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10.1016/j.gerinurse.2016.06.014

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title = "How trained volunteers can improve the quality of hospital care for older patients. A qualitative evaluation within the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP)",

abstract = "The aim of this study was to investigate, using a mixed-methods design, the added value of a trained Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) volunteer to the quality of hospital care in the Netherlands. The trained volunteers daily stimulate older patients, at risk of a delirium, to eat, to drink, and to exercise, and they provide walking assistance and cognitive stimulation. This study showed that each group appreciated the extra attention and service from the volunteers. The positive effect on feelings of loneliness during the hospital stay was an unexpected outcome. The volunteers themselves appreciated their work. In conclusion, a HELP volunteer should be provided to every older hospital patient.",

keywords = "HELP, Older adults, Quality of hospital care, Trained volunteers",

author = "Bas Steunenberg and {van der Mast}, Roos and Strijbos, {Marije J.} and Inouye, {Sharon K.} and Schuurmans, {Marieke J.}",

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AU - Steunenberg, Bas

AU - van der Mast, Roos

AU - Strijbos, Marije J.

AU - Inouye, Sharon K.

AU - Schuurmans, Marieke J.

PY - 2016/11/1

Y1 - 2016/11/1

N2 - The aim of this study was to investigate, using a mixed-methods design, the added value of a trained Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) volunteer to the quality of hospital care in the Netherlands. The trained volunteers daily stimulate older patients, at risk of a delirium, to eat, to drink, and to exercise, and they provide walking assistance and cognitive stimulation. This study showed that each group appreciated the extra attention and service from the volunteers. The positive effect on feelings of loneliness during the hospital stay was an unexpected outcome. The volunteers themselves appreciated their work. In conclusion, a HELP volunteer should be provided to every older hospital patient.

AB - The aim of this study was to investigate, using a mixed-methods design, the added value of a trained Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) volunteer to the quality of hospital care in the Netherlands. The trained volunteers daily stimulate older patients, at risk of a delirium, to eat, to drink, and to exercise, and they provide walking assistance and cognitive stimulation. This study showed that each group appreciated the extra attention and service from the volunteers. The positive effect on feelings of loneliness during the hospital stay was an unexpected outcome. The volunteers themselves appreciated their work. In conclusion, a HELP volunteer should be provided to every older hospital patient.

KW - HELP

KW - Older adults

KW - Quality of hospital care

KW - Trained volunteers

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SN - 0197-4572

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JO - Geriatric Nursing

JF - Geriatric Nursing

IS - 6

ER -

How trained volunteers can improve the quality of hospital care for older patients. A qualitative evaluation within the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP)

Abstract

Keywords

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