VCA presents research on informal care volunteering

What role do volunteers play in facilitating Amsterdam’s elderly to live at home longer? This was investigated by research agency De ParticipatiePraktijk on behalf of Volunteer Center Amsterdam (VCA). Both volunteers and volunteer coordinators and organizations were qualitatively interviewed for this research.Research shows: volunteering in informal care should be fun above allThe results from the researchTogether taking care of the people of Amsterdamshow that Amsterdam volunteers do not become volunteers because Dutch care policy demands it, but because they enjoy doing something they like and find fulfilling. A safe and defined work environment plays a crucial role in this. The research also shows that volunteers are sometimes assigned roles for which they were not directly hired. For example, they are sometimes seen as the primary contact person for needy Amsterdammers who have no relatives and are asked, for instance, to take charge during a hospital visit.

The full report can be read here:Together caring for the people of Amsterdam Web Version