ABSTRACT

Living with End-stage Renal Disease (ESRD) can be stressful and associated with long-term psychological effects on older adults, especially when they have to undergo a lifetime treatment. Previous studies have documented numerous positive effects of volunteering as a potential intervention on health and well-being among older adults. However, there is limited understanding of the experience of older adults in volunteering while having ESRD. This study aimed to explore the experience often older adults with ESRD volunteering while battling with their illness. Several themes emerged from the data analysis regarding the experience of volunteerism among the older adult ESRD patients. The themes are pre-volunteerism experience, enriching and inspiring experience, volunteering experience as sources of support system, improvement of health and wellbeing experience, experience in discovering meaning in life, experience in repaying the good deed, and challenges in volunteerism participation. This study contributes to the literature and practices through the illumination of innovative intervention through volunteering for older adults with ESRD.

摘要

患有终末期肾病 (ESRD) 可能会带来压力，并与对老年人的长期心理影响有关，尤其是当他们必须接受终生治疗时。以前的研究已经记录了志愿服务作为对老年人健康和福祉的潜在干预的许多积极影响。然而，对于患有 ESRD 的老年人志愿服务的经验了解有限。这项研究旨在探讨老年人在与疾病作斗争时自愿参加 ESRD 的经历。关于老年 ESRD 患者志愿服务经验的数据分析出现了几个主题。主题是志愿服务前的经验、丰富和鼓舞人心的经验、作为支持系统来源的志愿服务经验、改善健康和福祉体验、发现生命意义的体验、回报善行的体验以及参与志愿服务的挑战。这项研究通过为患有 ESRD 的老年人提供志愿服务来启发创新干预，从而为文献和实践做出贡献。