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Becoming An Older Volunteer: A Grounded Theory Study., J. W. Brown, S. L. Chen, Linda C. Mefford, A. Brown, B. Callen, P. Mcarthur

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Nursing

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 providemotivation 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 …