The experiences of volunteers with older people: a phenomenological study
The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of volunteers during their work, especially in their approach to older people, by using semi-structured interviews. Five meaning units were identified: volunteering seen as a transforming experience, volunteers’ need to be thanked and acknowledged, the volunteer’s involvement/emotional detachment, communication issues between older people and youth related to the generation gap, strong feelings of empathy towards older people and the perception of loneliness in some older people.