Australian eldercare providers: comparing volunteers and temporary staff on work environment, interpersonal relationships, and self-efficacy.
Volunteers (n = 52) and temporary employees (n = 49) at a nonprofit, health care program for the elderly in Australia completed measures on community self-efficacy, sense of community, and caregiver satisfaction and stress. Results indicated that both samples of respondents experienced a relatively strong sense of common mission to help the elderly, but volunteers, compared to employees, reported stronger self-efficacy about making a difference in their community. Volunteers, in comparison to temporary (or casual, the preferred term in Australia) employees, also reported a stronger sense of reciprocal responsibility to help their peers but stronger disharmony among members. Employees compared to volunteers reported greater satisfaction as a caregiver. Implications suggest marked differences in experiences of eldercare among volunteer and temporary employees working with the elderly.
Ferrari
Joseph R
JR
DePaul University, Chicago, IL 60614, USA. jferrari@depaul.com
D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012112:Residential Facilities; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D014838:Volunteers; D000078329:Workforce