Active aging and volunteer work: Older volunteer workers’ interpretations of aging

Mirja Ylimaula

Master's thesis

Abstract:

In this study, through semi-structured interviews with older female volunteers working in a nursing home in Southern Finland, I analyze how the older volunteer workers interpret their own aging process and the aging process of the older persons that they are helping. Additionally, I study the role of volunteer work in the volunteers’ and the residents’ aging process. The research findings are analyzed through a theoretical methodological framework on agency. In contrast to different narrow views on aging, this study shows how aging should be acknowledged as a process with characteristics that strongly vary from person to person. I show how the older volunteer workers and the residents of the nursing home have different abilities and resources, despite having similar ages. Nevertheless, the older volunteer workers emphasize how the human agency is to be acknowledged even when the persons’ consciousness and reflexivity are breaking. All the interviewees thought that volunteering is beneficial for their wellbeing as well as the residents’.

Abstract:

In this study, through semi-structured interviews with older female volunteers working in a nursing home in Southern Finland, I analyze how the older volunteer workers interpret their own aging process and the aging process of the older persons that they are helping. Additionally, I study the role of volunteer work in the volunteers’ and the residents’ aging process. The research findings are analyzed through a theoretical methodological framework on agency. In contrast to different narrow views on aging, this study shows how aging should be acknowledged as a process with characteristics that strongly vary from person to person. I show how the older volunteer workers and the residents of the nursing home have different abilities and resources, despite having similar ages. Nevertheless, the older volunteer workers emphasize how the human agency is to be acknowledged even when the persons’ consciousness and reflexivity are breaking. All the interviewees thought that volunteering is beneficial for their wellbeing as well as the residents’.

Keywords

older person, active aging, volunteer work, agency

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 8. 1. 2018

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 22. 1. 2018
• Supervisor: doc. Bernadette Nadya Jaworsky, Ph.D.
• Reader: Mgr. et Mgr. Gábor Oláh, Ph.D.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Social Studies

Master programme / field:
Sociology / Sociology (Eng.)