Engaging volunteers to help older adults stay healthy at home: The development of the TAPESTRY volunteer program Oliver D, Avilla E, Nair K, Longaphy J, Gill S, Dolovich L, on behalf of the TAPESTRY team
Jan 01, 2016
Engaging volunteers to help older adults stay healthy at home: The development of the TAPESTRY volunteer program
Oliver D, Avilla E, Nair K, Longaphy J, Gill S, Dolovich L, on behalf of the TAPESTRY team
TAPESTRY OVERVIEW
• A Health Canada funded initiative with additional support by the Government of Ontario (MOHLTC), LaBarge Optimal Aging Initiative, and McMaster Family Health Organization
» Duration of funding is 3 years
• Funding awarded to the Faculty of Health Science, McMaster University
» Project is coordinated through the DFM» Project team reports to Dr. John Kelton (Dean, FHS) and
Dr. David Price
• Co-Leads on the project:» Dr. Lisa Dolovich (PharmD), Dr. Doug Oliver (MD), Dr.
David Price (MD)
New Ideas
• Training Volunteers to serve as a linkage to the primary care team.
– Relationships will form in the home– Volunteers will add eyes and ears on the ground
• Using Technology from the home to link directly with the primary care team
– iPads with TAPESTRY APP for volunteers to use– Introduction of MyOscar (PHR)– Innovative resources (ie; Optimal Aging Portal)
TAPESTRY Intervention
Patients
Trained Volunteers
Information Technology
System Navigation & Community Engagement
Inter-professional
Teams
• Young Canadians (15 to 24 years old) consistently volunteer more than any other age group:– Younger Canadians volunteer rate: 58%– Pre-retirees (55 to 64 years old) volunteer rate: 41%– Older adult (≥65 years old) volunteer rate: 36%
• Older adult volunteers devote more hours than younger volunteers – Average of 223 hours each year versus 130 hours each year
Volunteering: 2010 Statistics Canada
Key motivating factor in their decision to volunteer
To make a contribution to the community93% of volunteer respondents
Statistics Canada, Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating, 2010 http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-649-x/89-649-x2011001-eng.htm accesed May 20, 2012 1:55 pm
• Coordinated by Volunteer Coordinator & Research Team– Recruitment
• From already existing volunteer organizations• Application, Screening, Interview• Police Check• Immunization Record• Proof of Drivers Licence
– Training (3 days)• Communication skills iPad Training• Home visit safety Understanding the Tools• Confidentiality and Privacy Use of the TAP APP• Cultural Sensitivity Test of Proficiency (OSCE
day)
Volunteer Recruitment & Training
Trained Community VolunteersVolunteers will travel to the patient’s home in pairs
• Novice (student) volunteer + experienced volunteer (peer)
1. Provide a social connection
2. Gather information• Related to goals, function, social connectivity, nutrition, fitness
3. Share information• Related to MyOSCAR, The Optimal Aging Portal and other community resources
4. Provide a Longitudinal Connection with Patients• For social support, follow up with self identified goals, and information sharing
with the clinical team
Volunteers – Novice• University students
– Surprised by the diversity of patients/clients.
– Open to suggestions from experienced partner
– Some felt less comfortable, but more secure with experienced volunteer
– Helpful to observe the communication style of experienced volunteers.
Volunteers – Experienced• Older adults >3 yrs vol. exp.
– When visits smooth or easy, questioned if they did something wrong
– Shares more insight into client’s emotions and current struggles
– Shares key points with novice volunteer:• Eg; Turn off cell
Volunteer Cross-Generational Experience
Client Feedback about Volunteer Visits
• Enjoyed seeing volunteers, led to self-reflection
• “…you go along in your life… you know things just happen…But the thing it [volunteer visit] did for me, made me stop and think…maybe this will apply to me and it’s changed my thinking”
• “They didn’t make you feel threatened in any way…and asked a lot of questions.”
• “I really felt they were doing something they were enjoying as well which made me feel comfortable… their approach was [by] the book, really trying to find answers and I appreciated that.”
Client Feedback about Volunteer Visits
HCP Feedback about Volunteer Visits
• Surprised how much information the patient has told the volunteers about their medical history, impressed with how much volunteers are able to gather
• Volunteer recruitment for RCT (Sept 2014)– Shalom Village– > 50 volunteers recruited– Online training August 2014
• Volunteer enrichment program– Bimonthly– 2 programs delivered; well-received (advanced
directives, elder abuse)
Next Steps