TY - JOUR
T1 - Inclusion of diverse older populations in volunteering
T2 - The importance of institutional facilitation
AU - Tang, Fengyan
AU - Morrow-Howell, Nancy
AU - Hong, Songiee
PY - 2009/10
Y1 - 2009/10
N2 - As older adults volunteer in greater numbers, concerns are being expressed about the exclusion of older adults who have historically been marginalized from volunteering. This study identifies the importance of institutional facilitation of older adults in volunteer programs, especially for those of lower socioeconomic status. A questionnaire assessing the importance of institutional facilitation in volunteering was completed by 374 volunteers aged 60 years and older from a national sample. Institutional facilitation was measured by multidimensional items capturing role flexibility, compensation, recognition, and accommodation. Flexibility-especially, choice of activities and ability to set own schedule- was perceived as most important to volunteers. Low-income and non-White volunteers gave more importance to institutional facilitators of engagement. This study suggests that voluntary organizations can facilitate the inclusion of older adults from diverse backgrounds through increasing flexibility, compensation, and recognition.
AB - As older adults volunteer in greater numbers, concerns are being expressed about the exclusion of older adults who have historically been marginalized from volunteering. This study identifies the importance of institutional facilitation of older adults in volunteer programs, especially for those of lower socioeconomic status. A questionnaire assessing the importance of institutional facilitation in volunteering was completed by 374 volunteers aged 60 years and older from a national sample. Institutional facilitation was measured by multidimensional items capturing role flexibility, compensation, recognition, and accommodation. Flexibility-especially, choice of activities and ability to set own schedule- was perceived as most important to volunteers. Low-income and non-White volunteers gave more importance to institutional facilitators of engagement. This study suggests that voluntary organizations can facilitate the inclusion of older adults from diverse backgrounds through increasing flexibility, compensation, and recognition.
KW - Inclusion
KW - Institutional facilitation
KW - Older volunteer
KW - Voluntary organization
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=70350054351&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0899764008320195
DO - 10.1177/0899764008320195
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:70350054351
SN - 0899-7640
VL - 38
SP - 810
EP - 827
JO - Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly
JF - Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly
IS - 5
ER -