title: How trained volunteers can improve the quality of hospital care for older patients. A qualitative evaluation within the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP).
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate, using a mixed-methods design, the added value of a trained Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) volunteer to the quality of hospital care in the Netherlands. The trained volunteers daily stimulate older patients, at risk of a delirium, to eat, to drink, and to exercise, and they provide walking assistance and cognitive stimulation. This study showed that each group appreciated the extra attention and service from the volunteers. The positive effect on feelings of loneliness during the hospital stay was an unexpected outcome. The volunteers themselves appreciated their work. In conclusion, a HELP volunteer should be provided to every older hospital patient.
authors.affiliation: University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, Faculty Health Sciences, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: Bas.Steunenberg@hu.nl.
authors.forename: Bas
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Steunenberg
authors.affiliation: Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Leiden, the Netherlands; University of Antwerp, Department of Psychiatry, Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Roos
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van der Mast
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Nursing Science and Sports Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marije J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Strijbos
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Sharon K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Inouye
authors.affiliation: University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, Faculty Health Sciences, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Rehabilitation, Nursing Science and Sports Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marieke J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Schuurmans
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D003693:Delirium / Q000517:prevention & control*; D061345:Early Medical Intervention / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006758:Hospital Volunteers / Q000523:psychology*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009426:Netherlands; D015397:Program Evaluation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011787:Quality of Health Care
keywords: HELP; Older adults; Quality of hospital care; Trained volunteers