Foster Grandparent Programs' Impact on the Quality-of-Life of Older Adult Volunteers

Volunteering among older adults in the United States is rising, with rates up by 65% since 1974. With this tremendous growth in volunteering among seniors, examining how it affects them is essential. One such volunteering program we look at in this research is the Foster Grandparents Program (FGP) of the High Country, which allows older adults to volunteer at local schools to help in-need children. Previous research has shown how volunteering as an older adult positively impacts people's quality of life. This paper will explore the quality-of-life changes for the FGP older adult volunteers, explicitly comparing the quality-of-life changes with demographics and program satisfaction. This study examined the survey response of 93 participants in the FGP. Cross-tabulation and correlations evaluated the relationships between demographic variables, satisfaction with the volunteer experience, and overall changes in the quality of life of volunteers. Age, gender, and years of service were not good predictors of quality-of-life changes. Satisfaction with the FGP program proved to be the best predictor for change in quality of life. Volunteer program management has positive effects on volunteers self-reported quality-of-life changes. Additional studies could look at how this impacts the volunteers' sense of purpose and its impact upon the time they donate to the volunteer program.