Article Details � Journal of Volunteer Administration
| Author's Name: |
Palermo,
Jennifer |
| Article Title |
The Impact of the Senior Companion Program on Quality of Life Outcomes for Frail Older Adults |
| Co-author? |
Yes: Donna J. Rabiner, Scott Scheffler, Elizabeth Koetse, Jennifer Palermo, Elizabeth Ponzi, Sandra Burt, and Lynelle Hampton |
| Year Published: |
2003 |
| Issue Number |
XXI (2) |
| Page Number |
17 |
| Article
Abstract |
The Senior Companion Quality of Care Evaluation was designed to assess the impact of a federally funded senior volunteer program on quality of care and quality of life outcomes for frail clients. Telephone interviews were conducted with a national sample of frail Senior Companion Program clients and comparison group members. This study examined responses from 658 clients (N = 54,103 weighted) who were interviewed at baseline and 3 months later. Multivariate modeling procedures were performed on the data to examine relative 3-month client outcomes. Senior Companion Program clients did relatively better than comparison group respondents on a variety of outcomes, including self-reported health, functional status, life satisfaction, unmet needs, depressive symptoms, and overall satisfaction with care. Generally, the Senior Companion Program has been considered a relatively low-cost way of matching the needs of community-based frail older adults with the skills and interests of senior volunteers. Now, the program has been shown to have small, but positive, effects on client well-being. These findings may take on greater significance in light of the desire to expand the supply of Senior Companions through the USA Freedom Corps Initiative. |
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