Becoming an Older Volunteer: A Grounded Theory Study

This Grounded Theory study describes the process by which older persons “become” volunteers. Forty interviews of older persons who volunteered for Habitat for Humanity were subjected to secondary content analysis to uncover the process of “becoming” a volunteer. “Helping out” (core category) for old...

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Main Authors: Janet Witucki Brown, Shu-li Chen, Linda Mefford, Allie Brown, Bonnie Callen, Polly McArthur
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2011-01-01
Series:Nursing Research and Practice
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/361250
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author Janet Witucki Brown
Shu-li Chen
Linda Mefford
Allie Brown
Bonnie Callen
Polly McArthur
author_facet Janet Witucki Brown
Shu-li Chen
Linda Mefford
Allie Brown
Bonnie Callen
Polly McArthur
author_sort Janet Witucki Brown
collection DOAJ
description This Grounded Theory study describes the process by which older persons “become” volunteers. Forty interviews of older persons who volunteered for Habitat for Humanity were subjected to secondary content analysis to uncover the process of “becoming” a volunteer. “Helping out” (core category) for older volunteers occurs within the context of “continuity”, “commitment” and “connection” which provide motivation for volunteering. When a need arises, older volunteers “help out” physically and financially as health and resources permit. Benefits described as “blessings” of volunteering become motivators for future volunteering. Findings suggest that older volunteering is a developmental process and learned behavior which should be fostered in older persons by personally inviting them to volunteer. Intergenerational volunteering projects will allow older persons to pass on knowledge and skills and provide positive role modeling for younger volunteers.
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spelling doaj-art-591370ec43ce4bbebe221d589e6d618d2025-08-20T02:05:21ZengWileyNursing Research and Practice2090-14292090-14372011-01-01201110.1155/2011/361250361250Becoming an Older Volunteer: A Grounded Theory StudyJanet Witucki Brown0Shu-li Chen1Linda Mefford2Allie Brown3Bonnie Callen4Polly McArthur5Knoxville College of Nursing, The University of Tennessee, 1200 Volunteer Blvd, Knoxville, TN 37996-4180, USACaylor School of Nursing, Lincoln Memorial University, 6965 Cumberland Gap Parkway, Harrogate, TN 37752, USAKnoxville College of Nursing, The University of Tennessee, 1200 Volunteer Blvd, Knoxville, TN 37996-4180, USAKnoxville College of Nursing, The University of Tennessee, 1200 Volunteer Blvd, Knoxville, TN 37996-4180, USAKnoxville College of Nursing, The University of Tennessee, 1200 Volunteer Blvd, Knoxville, TN 37996-4180, USAKnoxville College of Nursing, The University of Tennessee, 1200 Volunteer Blvd, Knoxville, TN 37996-4180, USAThis Grounded Theory study describes the process by which older persons “become” volunteers. Forty interviews of older persons who volunteered for Habitat for Humanity were subjected to secondary content analysis to uncover the process of “becoming” a volunteer. “Helping out” (core category) for older volunteers occurs within the context of “continuity”, “commitment” and “connection” which provide motivation for volunteering. When a need arises, older volunteers “help out” physically and financially as health and resources permit. Benefits described as “blessings” of volunteering become motivators for future volunteering. Findings suggest that older volunteering is a developmental process and learned behavior which should be fostered in older persons by personally inviting them to volunteer. Intergenerational volunteering projects will allow older persons to pass on knowledge and skills and provide positive role modeling for younger volunteers.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/361250
spellingShingle Janet Witucki Brown
Shu-li Chen
Linda Mefford
Allie Brown
Bonnie Callen
Polly McArthur
Becoming an Older Volunteer: A Grounded Theory Study
Nursing Research and Practice
title Becoming an Older Volunteer: A Grounded Theory Study
title_full Becoming an Older Volunteer: A Grounded Theory Study
title_fullStr Becoming an Older Volunteer: A Grounded Theory Study
title_full_unstemmed Becoming an Older Volunteer: A Grounded Theory Study
title_short Becoming an Older Volunteer: A Grounded Theory Study
title_sort becoming an older volunteer a grounded theory study
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/361250
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